Senate Committee Approves Boozman Bill to Restore Corps of Engineers Partnerships

Press Release

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approved legislation authored by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) to restore partnership agreements that allow the reinvestment of recreation fees at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds, parks, and other sites.

The Corps of Engineers Cooperative Joint Management Restoration Act, S. 2055, restores an earlier practice of the Corps, by which user fees were reinvested through public-private partnerships to enhance operation, maintenance, and management of recreation sites. Without this legislation, the fees are simply a tax.

Senators Boozman and Tom Carper (D-DE) offered an amendment to the bill to make it easier for non-federal partners to use visitor reservation services, such as the National Recreation Reservation Service, to reserve campsites, permits, and other facilities. The amendment was adopted by a unanimous voice vote.

"This is a great step toward allowing Corps sites in Arkansas to maintain and improve park facilities by reinvesting the fees collected through partnerships," Boozman said. "I am encouraged by the support of the committee."

S. 2055 is cosponsored by Senators Blunt (R-MO), McCaskill (D-MO), Pryor (D-AR), and Wicker (R-MS). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Tom Cotton (AR-04) and is cosponsored by Congressmen Rick Crawford (AR-01), Tim Griffin (AR-02), Steve Womack (AR-03) and others.

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