CARA gears up for round two. The Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 2001 passed the U.S. House Resources Committee on July 25 by a 29-12 vote. It is expected to go to the floor of the House for a full vote shortly after the August recess.

Last year CARA sailed through the House by a three to one majority and passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by a 13-7 vote. But CARA never made it to the Senate floor despite the fact 65 senators called for a vote.

CARA met with stiff opposition from property rights advocates and their allies on Capitol Hill.
While CARA languished, the House Interior Appropriations bill passed. This legislation included the Land Conservation, Preservation and Infrastructure Improvement (LCPII) program, dubbed “CARA Lite” by CARA supporters.

LCPII pales in comparison to CARA. CARA provided for long-term ($3.1 billion per year for 15 years), consistent funding for conservation, education and restoration projects. LCPII, on the other hand doles out approximately $1.6 billion for 2001 only, and at the discretion of appropriators.

Title III of CARA provided $350 million a year for wildlife conservation and restoration. LCPII earmarked $50 million for wildlife agencies with no assurances that every state would receive funding. Supporters of CARA managed to include another $50 million for wildlife in the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations measure but the interior bill set up a separate, and to date, undetermined process for use and distribution of funds.

Today, most state wildlife funding is the direct result of the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937. Pittman-Roberson levies an excise tax on guns, ammunition and other outdoor gear, which is redistributed to states. The money is used almost exclusively for the management and/or propagation of game animals. Non-game animals are left in the lurch.

This inequity was officially recognized in 1980 when Congress passed the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. This act was designed to aid non-game species. Regrettably, appropriators never saw fit to fund the act.

Since 1989, the number of threatened and endangered species has grown from 554 to around 1,000. It is sound fiscal as well as ecological policy to work to prevent the decline of wildlife populations before they reach the crisis point.

CARA can help provide funding for conservation, educational and recreational programs that will help prevent species (especially non-game species) from becoming endangered and work towards creating a lasting wildlife conservation ethic across the country.

Under CARA the state of North Carolina would receive over $8.5 million annually for 15 years for wildlife restoration and conservation. Monies that could be used to help protect important habitat like the Needmore Tract in Macon and Swain counties. CARA would also guarantee the state set PILT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) revenues rather than waiting on the whim of appropriators every year. In all, North Carolina would receive more than $46.6 million annually if CARA passes the 107th Congress.

Of course, by last year’s measure, that could be a big “if.” With bipartisan support in Congress, the backing of all 50 governors and 1,100 mayors CARA 2000 never made it to the Senate floor.

(Don Hendershot can be reached at don@smokymountainnews.com)

 

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