Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, today said the Bush Administration's proposed FY 2009 budget for natural resources programs merely repeats the same failed policies of past budgets that shortchange our ability to preserve and protect America's heritage for future generations.

"This is a true Groundhog Day budget that simply and agonizingly repeats the ludicrous budgetary policies that the Congress and the American people have consistently rejected, year after year, after year, after year," Rahall said.  "This budget axes forest programs, undercuts our wildlife refuges, puts programs to save endangered species under the knife, neglects the needs of our National Parks, and puts a stopper in important water programs."

For seven years, the Bush Administration's policies have resulted in the elevation of oil and gas drilling above all other uses of public lands.

"These skewed priorities have served only to whet the Administration's thirst to drill, while leaving a disgraceful legacy for the management of these irreplaceable resources.  This year's request continues that trend while reducing funding for conservation and restoration of depleted resources on our public lands," Rahall said.

Interestingly, the budget proposes to fund several initiatives promoted over the past two years by Rahall and Committee Democrats during consideration of energy legislation, but rejected by Republicans at the time, such as: repealing royalty relief for deepwater and deep gas production, requiring upfront and full payment of coal leases, and requiring oil and gas operators to pay for the cost of processing permits to drill on the public's lands.

Rahall pointed out that the Administration's failure to meet its inaugural promise to spend an additional billion dollars annually to retire the existing National Park Service maintenance backlog.  While the $712 million request for Parks facility operations and maintenance in the FY 2009 budget appears generous, this figure hardly puts a dent in the more than $8 billion in estimated backlog costs - a figure that is more than double what it was when President Bush took office in 2000. 

"From collapsing cannon carriages at Gettysburg National Military Park to crumbling drinking water supply systems throughout Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, it is clear that our Parks need a significant infusion of cash to take care of the repairs that seem so unglamorous yet make such a difference in resource preservation and visitor enjoyment in these locations," Rahall said. 

The budget also undercuts important Forest Service fire prevention measures, skimping on monies for hazardous fuels reduction that are critical to fending off fires and saving eventual fire-fighting costs.  As in previous years, the White House request represents only about 65 percent of the funding level authorized by Congress.

The Administration proposes spending $146.8 million for the Endangered Species Program, a $3.7 million decrease below last year's level.

"Given the huge debacle caused by Julie MacDonald, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, tinkering with science that has led to Interior's being forced to revisit decisions on endangered species listings, the ESA budget should be dramatically increased.  Instead, this figure does not even adequately support existing needs of listed species, let alone begin to correct the quagmire created by an unchecked MacDonald," Rahall said. 

Likewise, Rahall expressed disappointment that Fish and Wildlife has been targeted for an almost $3 million cut for its law enforcement activities that are critical to controlling an escalating international trade in illegally harvested wildlife, poaching on federal lands, and other activities that diminish the public's ability to enjoy our National Wildlife Refuges.

The President's budget contains a $16.6 million cut - a decrease of more than 70 percent - in Title XVI water reuse funding in the Bureau of Reclamation's budget, failing Western communities that are facing drought and their residents who count on the program for needed water and also eliminating needed jobs.

"This was the President's last chance to end the recurring budget nightmare that has set the Interior Department on a steady path of neglect and deterioration," Rahall said.  "Somebody pinch this Administration and get it to wake up to the reality of its repeated fiscal fiascos."

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