March 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 25

advo cacy update

Champions for the Cause
A look at this year's NRPA National
Congressional Award Winners

nnually, the National Recreation and Park Association presents its Na-

tional Congressional Award to one or more members of the United States
Congress in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of parks and
recreation. The awards are presented to noteworthy senators and representatives
who have furthered the mission of NRPA, namely through demonstrating national
leadership in efforts to support programs and policies which advance parks, recreation, and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for
all people. Past recipients include renowned environmental champion, Congressman Morris K. Udall of Arizona, the owner of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves,
Senator Herb Kohl, former Senator and current Secretary of the U.S. Department
of Interior, Ken Salazar, the late Ted Kennedy, and many other distinguished members of Congress. NRPA is please to recognize this year's honorees.

Bigstock

Rep. Kevin Brady, (R-TX)
12 Years in Congress
This nomination was
received from the City
of Houston Parks and
Rec reat ion D epa r tment. Rep. Brady has
worked for severa l
years with the Conservation Fund to provide
over $22 m i l l ion i n
support for Big Thicket
(East Texas) over the
past eight years. He has also helped bring Forest
Legacy Program funds to the table for its Turkey
Creek FLP easement that will be over 12,000-acres
when completed this December. This easement
is on acreage on the east side of the Big Thicket
Turkey Creek Unit and provides a major buffer for
the Preserve. This is a working forest easement
thus bringing a business solution to a conservation need. Rep. Brady is also working to expand the
Preserve by 100,000 acres. He is interested in the
economic impact of ecotourism and sees clearly
how these types of conservation projects in his district can increase the economic viability of the area.

Additionally, Rep. Brady has been a supporter of the
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), having signed onto Dear Colleague letters in both FY
2008 and FY 2010. He also holds the leadership position of deputy minority whip and plays a key role
in gathering votes on critical legislation.

Sen. Richard Burr, (R-NC),
4 Years in the U.S. Senate
Sen. Burr is a member
of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee as well as the
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. He is the ranking
member of the National
Parks Sub-Committee.
Sen. Burr sponsored
the Senate version of
the LWCF Dear Colleague letter for FY 2010 requesting $125 million
for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
State Assistance, $125 million for the Forest Legacy
Program, and $325 million for LWCF federal land acquisition in the FY 2010 Interior Appropriations bill.

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March 2010 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2010 - Parks & Recreation