forum08

What We Learned on Capitol Hill During the 2008 Legislative Forum

NRPA had a mighty presence on Capitol Hill on March 13, 2008 when over 400 advocates for parks and recreation trooped the Halls of Congress for a day. From the depths of the basement tunnel that connects the Cannon House Office Building to the Rayburn House Office Building, to the highest point on the Hill outside of the Capitol Dome, namely the 9th floor of Hart Senate Office Building, NRPA’s members and advocates were EVERYWHERE on the Hill. The members of Congress and congressional staff knew who we were and why we were there. Read more.

Delegations Report Hill Successes

NRPA's National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation came to a close today as state delegations revealed their Capitol Hill successes in a "Reports from the Hill" session. Delegations reported numerous fruitful meetings with senators, representatives, and congressional staff.

Wayne Gay, pictured at left, reported for the Georgia delegation, which met with both of its senators' offices and a number of House staffs. "All were in suport of the Land and Water Conservation Fund," he said. "Overall, it was very receptive."

Many of the congressional leaders the delegations spoke with were allies on park and recreation issues. Maryland citizen Dalton Mann said he met with Rep. John Sarbanes' (D-Md.) staff. "His office was excellent," Mann said. "He was the author of No Child Left Behind legislation, which he obviously supports, as he does our other issues."

Through the reported successes of attendees and their state delegations, there was no doubt that NRPA had left an indelible footprint on this session's Congress.

It's a Bird

It's a plane. It's a . . . No, no, it's the hard-working delegation from Maryland on Capitol Hill fighting the good fight for public parks and recreation. Great job, gang! By the way, that's NRPA's very own Becky Webb Morser, second from the left.

Bono Knows Parks, Recreation

Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.), a 2008 NRPA National Congressional Award recipient, reflects on the overall health and quality of life of today's children. It's so important, Rep. Bono says, "in our society to have open space to retreat to. If we could all get out and reflect and recreate, I think we would be a better society for it."

Listen below as she accepts her reward:

Rallying the Troops

Question: How do you rally 400 delegates to hit Capitol Hill with determination, inspiration, and passion? Answer: If you're NRPA Interim Executive Director Katie Grove Coffroad, you don full boxing regalia at 8 o'clock in the morning and demand that people get fired up. Have to say, her tactic seems to have worked.

Awesome. You simply have to see it to believe it:

From All Corners

NRPA delegates from nearly every state across the nation headed to Capitol Hill to lobby for park and recreation interests today. Among the delegations were attendees from Louisiana, who had a full agenda, meeting with congressional staff members from Sen. David Vitter's (R-La.) and Sen. Mary Landrieu's (D-La.) offices, among others. They also met with Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), pictured at left, and an aide. “We’re looking for funding for the [Land Water Conservation Fund], which has helped fund a number of project in our district,” NRPA Trustee Carl Breeden told Melancon's staff member. The congressman, who was voting on a number of bills, also met with the group for several minutes.

President Kotowski: On the Hill

All in all, things seemed to go swimmingly during Thursday's trip to the Hill. Legislators were receptive, the weather was beautiful, and delegates were received with sincere interest by congressional staffers. But, honestly, who in their right mind would be against something as out-of-this-world as public parks and recreation?!

Here, NRPA President Linda Kotowski talks a bit about her delegation's visit to the Hill on Thursday, and the political climate in her state of Colorado:

Policy Director Dolesh Reflects

As the Day on the Hill officially wound down, NRPA Senior Director of Public Policy took a moment to reflect on the association's top legislative priorities, and looked forward to the political landscape that is evolving as we move toward November's presidential election:

Walking the Halls

We are walking the halls of Congress--literally! Our first meeting is not for two hrs, and we are looking for the cafeteria. My blister does notr hurt b/c I still have my tennis shoes on! I will change on my way into the congressman's office. For now it's hurry up and wait.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Observation from the Hill

You just can"t believe how many young, attractive people walking the halls. Staffers no doubt-- some of America's brightest. Lots of folks with NRPA badges sitting around in the cafeteria. I'm sitting with parks and recreation folks from Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Raleigh. We're solving lots of regional problems!!!

Putting Your Best Feet Forward

YOUCH!!! I already have a blister and I haven't tackled Capitol Hill yet. So glad I brought tennis shoes and I can change out of before entering the office buildings. I went with my friend Laura who is here from TX yesterday so she could buy some comfortable shoes. Newbies need to be warned about this BEFORE they get here. Of course, it's good for the DC economy!!!

Prepping for the Hill

I'm getting ready to recharge my batteries for 2day's venture. (Go2bed). I have a meeting with Rep. Price from Raleigh, N.C. I think I want to talk to him about 21st Century and Water Conservation but also about the economic impact our Cary Tennis Park has had on our local economy and the health benefits derived from a facility built in one of the fastest-growing senior communities in North Carolina serving one of the fastest growing/revisited senior sports. I also want to talk about how parks will help our disabled military veterans, especially living so close to Fort Bragg/Fayetteville.

Will let you know how it goes. I hope breakfast is filling.....we leave at 8 a.m. ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

P.S. The reception was really nice tonight!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

NRPA Emphasizes Policy Priorities

NRPA Public Policy staff gave a group presentation on Wednesday afternoon focused on the association's top legislative and appropriations priorities for the year. In a nutshell, here's what we're looking at:

1. Support funding for parks and public lands.
2.Promote health, physical activity, and recreation.
3. Support youth development and livable communities.

NRPA Senior Director of Policy Richard Dolesh made this plea to members who will be taking to the Hill tomorrow to lobby Congress: "You need to make the personal connection, but we also want you to ask for the national priorities."

Dolesh went on to suggest that there are three primary "asks" that members should make on the Hill:

1. Appropriations for the Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance program. ("The 'ask,'" says Public Policy Manager Mike Phillips, "is $125 million.")
2. The Play Every Day Act. ("We have an obesity crisis," says Senior Policy Manager Stacey Pine, "and to fight that, children really need to play.")
3. You choose. ("Keep your 'asks' simple," Dolesh reiterated.)

But please keep in mind the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery, or UPARR, program, Dolesh says. With an estimated $15 billion in unmet needs in the United States to park and recreation infrastructure, "UPARR has not been funded since fiscal year 2002," says Senior Policy Manager Ashley Futrell. "You should ask for $30 million for UPARR."

Sabato Gives Election Low-Down

Attendees got a healthy dose of the Capitol Hill lay of the land this afternoon by Dr. Larry Sabato, the director for the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. He analyzed the upcoming presidential election in terms of candidates, primaries, and specific situations that could affect the outcome. Sabato confirmed that it will likely be a tight race, but some key factors will likely make a big difference closer to Election Day.

“There are four fundamentals and they have determined every presidential race since Washington,” he explained. Those include war and peace, the economy, scandal, and hot-button social issues.

Laverty Addresses Forum Attendees

Longtime NRPA member and Assistant Secretary for Interior's Fish, Wildlife and Parks Lyle Laverty addressed delegates at Wednesday morning's opening general session. Reflecting on the importance of parks and recreation in his own life, Laverty implored participants to emphasize the benefits of what they do on a daily basis to improve quality of life in their own communities.

Listen to what he had to say: