Interior Department Budget Slightly Down From Last Year

By Sofia Sanchez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar outined his department's 2011 budget on Monday.

"Our mission is as simple as it is profound: we protect America's natural resources and cultural heritage. The 2011 budget will allow us to carry out our stewardship responsibilities in a way that provides the American people the maximum value for their tax dollars and a fair return for the resources we mange in their name," said Salazar.

President Barack Obama proposed a $12.2 billion budget for the department for fiscal year 2011.

According to a statement released by the DOI, the administration's request for the DOI contains $750 million in reductions and terminations of lower priority programs and elimination of the one-time funding. The 2011 budget is $38.7 million or 0.3% below the level enacted by Congress for 2010.

Salazar said that his department's budget would include funds for protecting treasured landscapes and a new WaterSMART program that will sustain and manage America's resources for tomorrow.

Salazar also highlighted "the importance of honoring trust responsibilities and empowering tribal nations." His budget calls for a total of $2.6 billion to honor the nation's commitments to the American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Stimulus Package Wasn't Meant To Act As Magic Wand Says Sec. Salazar

By Aaron Richardson - Talk Radio News Service

The stimulus package is working but it will take time for America to see positive results, said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar during testimony before the House Budget Committee on Friday. Salazar was joined at the hearing by Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack and Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood.

“This was a program that was supposed to work over time, it was not supposed to essentially be a magic wand that from one day to another would take the economy out of a deep ditch, which it had gotten into,” said Salazar.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said he is worried that the stimulus package may not work the way it was designed to.

“Even though the stimulus is possibly, maybe starting to kick in, right around the corner at the end of next year massive tax increases are already coming into law. We think that the fiscal policy coming out of Congress just candidly is the wrong fiscal policy,” said Ryan.

Vilsack argued that the stimulus package will eventually produce positive, tangible results that Americans will notice.

“The recovery act is working. It is transitioning America from bad times to better times and getting the work accomplished around the nation that Americans want done,” he professed.

New Report Urges Immediate Conservation Action To Save Nation’s Outdoor Resources

A report released today by The Outdoor Resources Review Group recommended allocating $3.2 billion annually toward the conservation of American land.  The report, entitled “Great Outdoors America”, also includes recommendations for recreational trends, identification of policy failures, and a description of technological changes that have affected the U.S.' outdoor resources.

Honorary Co-Chairs Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) presented the report to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.  

Patrick Noonan, Chairman Emeritus of The Conservation Fund and Member of the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, briefly outlined a number of recommendations from the report including better coordination with the Department of the Interior and new tax incentives for non-profit and private conservation groups.

“We recommend a nationwide system of blueways and water trails to mobilize communities and organizations to improve water quality close to home,” said Noonan.

The report builds on the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Campaign of 1962 and the President’s Commission on American Outdoors of 1987.

“Much has changed since [the previous reports]: demographics are different, there are more of us...larger minority participation, different roles of women, urbanization...cities have grown to 80% of our population,” said Henry Diamond, partner at Beveridge & Diamond and former commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Diamond added,“Federal government plays a substantial role and spends a lot of money but it is rather disorganized in this field.  There are many agencies...that we think needs changing.  We think the land and water fund has a history of being starved."  

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar emphasized that action to conserve America’s landscapes is necessary now because of the troubled economy, wars, and health care issues Americans face today.

“It is in the most difficult times of our country that we look to the landscapes to refuel the spirit and the greatness of our country,” Salazar explained.

Salazar provided three reasons why conservations efforts should be a top priority including job creation, health benefits, and response to climate change.