For Immediate Release

August 2, 2004

REP. DICKS VISITING NATIONAL PARKS THIS WEEK

TACOMA, WA – Sixth District U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks will be visiting Washington State’s three national parks this week as part of his effort in Congress to focus on the operational needs of the parks across the nation. 

            Dicks, the senior Democrat on the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, has led an effort in Congress in recent years to increase resources for the staffing, facilities and maintenance of the 387 federally-run parks nationwide.  Citing a report from the National Parks and Conservation Association released earlier this year documenting a $600 million shortfall at the national parks, Rep. Dicks argued successfully for a boost of at least $55 million in the upcoming fiscal year for the National Park Service.  The funds will be directed specifically at operational accounts, he said, which will more directly improve visitor services. 

            The congressman is meeting on Monday at Mount Rainier National Park with Superintendent Dave Uberuaga, followed by a tour of new construction projects on the west side of the park.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, he meets with resource and management staff of the North Cascades National Park, followed by a tour or Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island.  Thursday he will be meeting with Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner and visiting the Hoh River Forest Visitor Center and other park elements on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula.

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