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| September 29, 2020 Mr. Bryan K. Luke PO Box 560 Marion, SD 57043-0560 Dear Bryan, Thank you for contacting me about the Great American Outdoors Act, S. 3422. I appreciate hearing from you about this issue. As you know, on March 10, 2020, Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced S. 3422, the Great American Outdoors Act. Later that month on March 28, companion legislation, H.R.1957, was introduced in the House of Representatives by the late congressman Representative John Lewis (D-GA). This legislation would establish a fund to address the maintenance backlog in our National Parks. It would also provide permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). On June 17, 2020, S. 3422 passed the Senate by a vote of 73 to 25, with amendments. On August 4, 2020, H.R. 1957 was signed into law by President Donald Trump. After much consideration, I voted against this legislation. While this bill took steps that I agreed with, including appropriating funds to address deferred maintenance backlogs within the National Parks Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Education, it is not a good long-term solution. H.R. 1957 only addresses parts of the current maintenance backlog and does not structurally address the maintenance funding concerns. Further, and my biggest concern, this bill permanently funds the LWCF. Permanently authorizing and appropriating the LWCF will harm Congress’s future ability to provide oversight and make necessary changes. We have a responsibility to make certain that taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly and that each program is achieving its principle goals. This funding is now permanently on autopilot like 70 percent of all federal appropriations. Again, thank you for contacting me about this issue. Sincerely, Mike Rounds United States Senator *NOTE: [email protected] is an unmonitored email account. To email Sen. Rounds, click here. | |
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What is he smoking? Offshore royalities are the average joes tax dollars?
Not impressed, but also can't say I'm surprised at all....On June 18, I sent an email to my Sen. Mike Rounds asking him to explain his "no" vote on the GAOA. I received an automated response that he would be returning my email with an explaination, also on June 18. I waited until August 18 then sent another request for an answer. Finally on 9-29 I received this:
September 29, 2020
Mr. Bryan K. Luke
PO Box 560
Marion, SD 57043-0560
Dear Bryan,
Thank you for contacting me about the Great American Outdoors Act, S. 3422. I appreciate hearing from you about this issue.
As you know, on March 10, 2020, Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced S. 3422, the Great American Outdoors Act. Later that month on March 28, companion legislation, H.R.1957, was introduced in the House of Representatives by the late congressman Representative John Lewis (D-GA). This legislation would establish a fund to address the maintenance backlog in our National Parks. It would also provide permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). On June 17, 2020, S. 3422 passed the Senate by a vote of 73 to 25, with amendments. On August 4, 2020, H.R. 1957 was signed into law by President Donald Trump.
After much consideration, I voted against this legislation. While this bill took steps that I agreed with, including appropriating funds to address deferred maintenance backlogs within the National Parks Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Education, it is not a good long-term solution.
H.R. 1957 only addresses parts of the current maintenance backlog and does not structurally address the maintenance funding concerns. Further, and my biggest concern, this bill permanently funds the LWCF. Permanently authorizing and appropriating the LWCF will harm Congress’s future ability to provide oversight and make necessary changes. We have a responsibility to make certain that taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly and that each program is achieving its principle goals. This funding is now permanently on autopilot like 70 percent of all federal appropriations.
Again, thank you for contacting me about this issue.
Sincerely,
Mike Rounds
United States Senator
*NOTE: [email protected] is an unmonitored email account. To email Sen. Rounds, click here.
Is this true? I've never heard that before.
