National Parks and Wildlife May Be Endangered Under Coburn

By Michael Combier-Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), chairman of the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee, complained this afternoon at a news conference about the “highjacking” of the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights Act by a rider sponsored by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK). This rider would allow individuals to carry weapons such as shotguns, AK-47, and rifles into national parks in concordance with state laws.

The rider is an additional provision annexed to the Credit CardHolder’s Bill of Rights Act bu Senator Coburn. Controversial riders are often attached to a bill in order to prevent it from being passed.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) also took part in the news conference held this afternoon and claimed the rider would be “detrimental to a hundred years of policy for national lands” such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Gettysburg.

The three Representatives sought the support of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and President Barack Obama in order to defend the National Park Rangers who are at risk with this rider. They pointed out that the atmosphere into which families and wildlife intermingled will no longer be the same if individuals are allowed to carry weapons.

To back up the Representative’s complaints, two retired Park Rangers were present and stressed that “parks are for families, not guns.” They added that politicians “should not deter about the specialness and uniqueness” of National Parks and that if the Coburn riber should pass, they would not feel safe to send their own kids.

Grijalva said that the “National Rifle Association is taking over both House and Senate” which McCarthy and Maloney agreed. They added that the news conference was a way for American people to put pressure on their local politicians to oppose the bill. They said it will be a very difficult vote in Congress which is supposed to hit the floor either tomorrow or Thursday.

G.I.V.E. for Volunteerism

Coffee Brown, University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News

The legislative stars were out for H.R. 1388 – Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, which supports volunteerism, partially with a stipend or grant toward higher education.

Backed by phalanx of representatives from Be the Change, AmeriCorps alums, Experience Corps, Serve Next, Survivor Corps, DC Central Kitchen, the court-appointed special advocates of DC, and the Young Marines, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) thanked everyone who worked on the bill and compared Obama’s effect on this generation with the way John Kennedy had inspired her and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

Hoyer said, “In one year, the millions of Americans (who volunteered) generated in excess of $150 billion. Every dollar we invest in AmeriCorps gives anywhere from $1.50 to $3.90 in return. Boy, oh boy, wouldn’t we like to have a lot of companies who did as well as that.” He cited several volunteer home-weatherizing projects around the country.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) said volunteerism is for everyone: young, retired, and those displaced from their jobs.

Perriello, who has spent his entire career working for non-profits in Africa and the U.S., said, “What we’ve all found is that service isn’t just a matter of giving back to our community, it was a matter of forming our very character. Every American feels a call to service, this cannot be something that only rich young people can afford. This is a bill that is not about anything other than enabling young people to answer that call.” He also pointed out the expertise that volunteers gain doing this work, and the need to bank those skills against emergencies and disasters. “We’ve found that once people have volunteered a little bit, they become a volunteer for life.“Volunteerism is addictive,” he finished.

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) introduced Survivor Corps US Program Manager Capt. Scott Quilty. While leading a patrol in the Sunni Triangle in Oct. ’06, he was a victim of a roadside bomb,losing his right arm and leg.

“Service saved my life twice. Veterans and their families will be given the chance to continue serving their community, by this legislation,” Quilty said. “ Service doesn’t have to end when we take of the uniform, and it shouldn’t end.”

Miller predicted strong bipartisan support in Congress today and tomorrow.

Addendum: H.R. 1388 passed the House 03/18/09