Unfortunately, years of underfunding has produced a massive $11.6 billion (with a B) maintenance backlog at our national parks. Many are in a critical state of disrepair.pic.twitter.com/FDguODrCgN
You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more
Unfortunately, years of underfunding has produced a massive $11.6 billion (with a B) maintenance backlog at our national parks. Many are in a critical state of disrepair.pic.twitter.com/FDguODrCgN
Virginia ranks 5th in terms of states with the greatest need for maintenance. Over $800 million in deferred maintenance has left Shenandoah, Jamestown, Fredericksburg, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and other national parks in need of significant repairs.
Most people agree that something must be done to address our national parks maintenance backlog. The problem, as usual, is how you pay for it.
First, the Trump Administration proposed hiking fees on our national parks, sticking families with the costs of Congress’ mismanagement. No one liked that idea, prompting the #HikeTrailsNotFees backlash and forcing the administration to reconsider its position.
The Administration has started to come around to the idea of using existing revenue to fix this problem. Unfortunately, they’ve landed on an idea, supported by some Democrats, that isn’t sustainable in the long term.https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/democrats-fight-over-ryan-zinkes-plan-to-use-energy-revenue-to-fix-national-parks …
tl;dr – Tying funding for national parks maintenance to unrealistic projections about the price of oil doesn’t solve much of anything in the long run. Frankly, it puts us right back where we started.
I introduced a bill last year with @SenRobPortman that has a straightforward solution: use existing money already collected by the federal government from oil and natural gas revenues to fix our parks.
That doesn't mean new taxes or new drilling, just spending our money more wisely and solving the problem.
The point here is we need a bipartisan solution that doesn’t just put a band-aid on the problem. If we want to preserve the beauty and history of our national parks for future generations, we need to work together to fully fund the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog.
I hope the Administration will take another look at my bill with @SenRobPortman, the National Park Service Legacy Act, because it really begins to solve this $11.6 billion problem.
In conclusion, and since you’ve read through 12 tweets about revenue streams for deferred park maintenance, here are some photos of some of Virginia’s magnificent #NationalParks. Thanks for reading. #NationalParksWeekpic.twitter.com/WZhj4rWtEb
Nice thread @MarkWarner and good to see bipartisan support from @robportman. We owe the next generation a smart investment in our #NationalParks
Thank you for protecting our parks, our history, the unspoiled natural beauty of land that needs to be protected from greedy, evil people like Trump & Pruitt & Zinke so it lasts forever for the enjoyment of future generations--it belongs to ALL of us
We travelled on a long road trip this summer, and the National Parks were by far our best stops. Clean restrooms, great history, informed and helpful staff, beautiful sites. Absolutely one of the treasures of our country and needs to be properly funded!
I doubt Trump has ever been to these beautiful places and probably hasn't camped in any of them. MAYBE when he was a kid, but even that is doubtful. Too much of a whiner.
Are you kidding? Trump's idea of camping is an air conditioned golf cart ride at Ma a Lago.
Good luck with this horrible administration!
Don't let Zinke destroy it all
Sadly there’s an element in our society that thinks that National Parks infringe on their right to kill any animal they see and drive off road vehicles anywhere they choose. Your pictures are beautiful and those views belong to us all.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.