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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Bipartisan Effort in Congress to Restore National Parks

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Friday, March 16, 2018   

PORTLAND, Ore. – Bipartisan legislation in Congress could begin to relieve the $11 billion maintenance backlog in the national park system.

The National Park Restoration Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., would dedicate funding to infrastructure projects around the country. Last year in Oregon, deferred-maintenance costs exceeded $115 million.

That's something Jim Hammett, former superintendent for the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, understands well. He says visitation to national parks largely is reliant on dependable infrastructure – from roads and parking lots to restrooms – which is why it's important to keep them maintained.

"I certainly think that in many cases,” he says, “there is a limit in terms of how much increase in visitation that most of these parks can take based on just the infrastructure and the assets that are in those parks that are not being maintained, or brought up to current standards."

Trips to national parks have continued to increase in recent years. They saw record attendance in 2016, topping 330,000,000 visitors. That same year, visitors spent nearly $140 million in gateway communities to Oregon's six National Park Service sites.

The legislation has also garnered support from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

The National Park Restoration Act would create a fund for priority maintenance needs, using royalties from energy production on federal lands and waters. Marcia Argust with The Pew Charitable Trusts' "Restore America's Parks" project says a 2017 study commissioned by Pew found more than 110,000 jobs could be created or supported if the maintenance backlog was resolved, including more than a thousand jobs in Oregon.

Argust says the local boost to economies is one reason the bill is getting support from both sides of the aisle.

"They understand that parks preserve our history, and they understand that parks are important for the economics of local communities,” says Argust. “So, I think the outpouring of support from these voices is being heard."

Argust adds visitors nationwide have spent more than $18 billion and supported nearly 320,000 jobs in communities adjacent to national parks.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.




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