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This
Year's Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) Legislation
In
last year’s 106th Congress, two bills were enacted
as a result of efforts to pass the Conservation and Reinvestment
Act (CARA) (CW, Fall ‘00, p. 36). Although there is
provision for $1,648,185 for wildlife conservation in Illinois
this year, neither law addressed the main purpose of CARA
— the need for adequate, long-term, guaranteed funding
for states to use for wildlife conservation and recreation,
coastal and marine conservation, state and local urban parks,
and historic preservation.
CARA,
as it has been introduced in the 107th Congress, includes
provision for: $1 billion Impact Assistance and Coastal
Conservation; $900 million Land and Water Conservation Fund
Revitalization; $350 million Wildlife Conservation and Restoration
Fund; $125 million Urban Park and Recreation Recovery; $50
million Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery; and
$350 million Payment In Lieu of Taxes and Refuge Revenue
Sharing.
Illinois
Congressman Mark Kirk has signed on to be a cosponsor of
this year’s CARA legislation. Plaudits to Congressman
Kirk. If the original CARA allocation for Illinois is approved
by the 107th Congress (seven times the amount approved in
2000), funds will be available to study, restore, protect
and manage natural areas. For more information, visit http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/cara/.
– Donald Dann
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