Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Tuesday, July 15, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator Kit Bond announced today that he has secured approval from a key Senate committee to provide $12 million for high priority Missouri landmarks, forest and wildlife projects. The Senate Appropriations Committee backed Bond's requests which are contained the fiscal 2004 appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Interior.

"This money will help safeguard Missouri's natural beauty and also some important landmarks," said Bond, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. "We have an obligation to protect and preserve the most beautiful parts of our state for future generations."

While the approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee marks an important milestone in securing these funds, several steps remain. First, the full U.S. Senate must approve the projects. And then the projects must remain in the appropriations legislation as the Senate and House of Representatives reconcile their different versions of the bill. And, finally, of course, the legislation must go to the President for his signature. The legislation in question would fund the U.S. Department of Interior for the next fiscal year which begins October 1, 2003.

Here is a list of the projects:

* $4.4 million to build a security perimeter at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial which consists of the landmark Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse. The perimeter is required to protect the landmark at a time of increased security threats related to the war against terrorism.

* $3.5 million for the George Washington Carver National Monument in Joplin which provides better educational opportunities for Missourians to learn about Carver's important contributions to the U.S.

* $1.32 million for a "Wood to Energy" energy research program for the Missouri Forest Foundation.

* $500,000 for U.S. Geological Service study of on how best to protect the pallid sturgeon.

* $500,000 in start-up funds for a Forest Legacy program in Missouri. The Forest Legacy Program is a partnership between participating States and the USDA Forest Service to identify and help protect environmentally important forests from conversion to non-forest uses.

* $500,000 each (3) for land Wildlife purchases in the Great River and Big Muddy Fish and Wildlife Refuges and the Mark Twain National Forest.