U.S. Parks Community to Launch National Dialogue on Building a More Sustainable Funding Future for America's National Treasures

Bipartisan Policy Center Bridge-Builder Series to Feature Senator Mark Udall Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With sequestration and general federal budget pressures threatening the National Park Service budget, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and National Park Hospitality Association (NPHA) will host a national dialogue about supplementary funding strategies for national parks at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) on Tuesday, March 19 at 8:30AM. This timely and important discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing the funding of America's national parks will kick off BPC's 2013 Bridge-Builder Breakfast series.

Our national parks have a special place in American life and culture. Yet the erosion of park funding threatens the future of this beloved American institution. NPC and NPHA will launch a national dialogue that day to identify additional non-appropriated funding strategies that can generate bipartisan support for America's treasured national parks.

Watch the webcast live at: http://bipartisanpolicy.org/events/2013/03/building-more-sustainable-future-americas-national-parks

WHO:   
Senator Mark Udall (D-CO)
Secretary Dan Glickman (Moderator), Senior Fellow, Bipartisan Policy Center
Honorable Dirk Kempthorne (Opening Remarks), former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and Governor of Idaho; President & CEO, American Council of Life Insurers                  
Honorable Norm Dicks, former U.S. Representative 
Honorable Jim Oberstar, former U.S. Representative 
Honorable Christie Todd Whitman, former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; former Governor of New Jersey
Whit Ayres, President, North Star Opinion Research
Derrick Crandall, Counselor, National Park Hospitality Association                  
Geoff Garin, President, Peter Hart Research Associates
Jeremy Jacobs, Jr., Principal, Delaware North Companies
Gary Kiedaisch, Chairman & CEO, Igloo
Tom Kiernan, President, National Parks Conservation Association
Lynn Scarlett, Director of the Center for Management of Ecological Wealth at Resources for the Future

WHAT:    
National Parks Conservation Association and National Park Hospitality Association hold national dialogue to identify potential funding strategies to protect America's treasured national parks

WHEN:   
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: 
Bipartisan Policy Center
1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
202-204-2400

About the Bipartisan Policy Center
Founded in 2007 by former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell, Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation and respectful dialogue.  With projects in multiple issue areas, BPC combines politically balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/.

About the National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA and its 750,000 members and supporters work together to protect our National Park System and preserve our nation's natural, historical, and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren. www.npca.org.

About the National Park Hospitality Association
The National Park Hospitality Association (NPHA) is the national trade association of the businesses that provide lodging, food services, gifts and souvenirs, equipment rentals, transportation and other visitor services in the National Park System.  Concessioners have played an important role in creating lasting national park memories for more than 125 years.  Concessioners operate in more than 100 national park units with combined sales exceeding $1 billion annually and $70 million+ in franchise fees paid to the National Park Service.  The in-park concessioner workforce of some 25,000 persons assists visitors an estimated 100 million times annually www.parkpartners.org.

SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center

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