February 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 50

cov e r sto ry
By Phil Hayward

o most America ns, Ca pitol Hill - or, simply, The Hill -conjures up visions

of the iconic white Capitol building which really does sit atop a hill, with sweeping westward views of parks and monuments. But as advocates for myriad worthy causes will
tell you, the Hill is much more than a metaphor for the combined workings of the three branches of government. It's where the work of government gets done and thus it's a magnet for all
who would like to see their work get done in Washington. Just as business in the " White House "
gets done in numerous buildings near the actual Presidential residence, legislative work occurs in massive office buildings ringing the Capitol building. With names like Dirksen, Russell,
Cannon, and Hart, these buildings house the offices of senators and representatives as well as
those for committees and hearing rooms. It's their many miles of corridors that NRPA's staff and
members traverse in pursuit of the association's mission.

On the Hill
" The problem was the Administration also proposed a
While much non-monetary legislation gets accomplished on Capitol Hill, it's money, pure and simple, that competitive grant program, using 60 percent of the Statedrives most activity here. It's the October-to-September side monies for a Department of Interior-administered
federal budget cycle that gives Washington its own season- competitive grant program that would have taken money
al feel and shape. Even with the current disruptive partisan away from the states. "
In essence, the Department of Interior's plan called for
spectacle characterized as deficit reduction, the annual
using the majority of the Stateside money to fund only a few
budget cycle still dominates.
It was in this milieu that NRPA achieved one of its major projects. Likely these projects would have been located in
Hill accomplishments, the securing of $45 million in Land key battleground states.
Gone would have been the far fairer Stateside apporand Water Conservation Fund State Assistance monies
while simultaneously fighting back a Department of the In- tioning formula for cities, counties, and states around the
terior proposal to alter the universal distribution of funds to entire country. In anticipation of the annual Congressional
appropriations hearings to dissect the
a restrictive competitive grant system.
" It's a combination of
Administration's budget, Pine and her
Achieving this rare victory in a period
of bitter cost-cutting required coordi- presenting the data as well team went into action.
Each year between February and
nated planning, consummate networkas the human stories. "
March, NRPA staff provide written
ing, and plain hard work. In this article
-Stacey Pine,
testimony for Congressional approNRPA staff and members explain how
NRPA Vice President Government
priations hearings to lay out the asthey achieved this victory-with an
Affairs, on working with Congress
sociation's views and wishes for the
eye to demonstrating the invaluable
proposed budget. Much of their work happens behind the
grassroots member contributions to the NRPA mission.
Annually, the first week in February, the President of the scenes in numerous meetings with members of Congress,
United States addresses the nation to preview the upcom- their direct staff, and the staffs of appropriations subcoming federal fiscal budget, as presented by the Executive mittees. It's a critical time for any organization seeking to
branch. " This is when we get a sense of what the Adminis- find new funding or to preserve existing funding. [Please
tration wants to do, " says Stacey Pine, NRPA Vice President see accompanying appropriations timeline.]
" This is why the Legislative Forum is so important-it's
of Government Affairs. " For Fiscal Year '12, the Administration proposed fully funding LWCF and providing $200 right in the middle of appropriations hearings, " Pine says.
" That's when we send our members to the Hill. Members
million to the Stateside program.

48 Parks & Recreation F E B R U A R Y

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February 2012 - Parks & Recreation

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