R-2006-21 support increased funding for Texas Recreation and Parks

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TWS * UI'I'rl'al ion & Ilark Sod I'! ) 2006 - 2007 TRAPS Legislative Platform The Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) four primary objectives in the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature: 1. Achieve restoration of reductions made by the 78th & 79th Legislatures to the Texas Recreation and Parks Account (TRPA). TRAPS supports appropriation to the full amount authorized by Chapter 24, Parks and Wildlife Code; including retention of the dedication language in Chapter 24, Parks and Wildlife Code. 2. Support funding for the operations and maintenance of the existing state parks system and provide acquisition and development funds for the future needs of Texas. 3. Support legislation that maximizes the use of revenue from the sales tax gathered from sporting goods to increase funding of Park and Recreation as a system, fairly, for both State and Local parks to address the shortfall of state park operations and local park acquisition and development. 4. Ensure that no legislative appropriation riders are allowed that set aside TRP A money for specific projects or locales. TRAPS maintains that all candidate grant projects should be subject to the established competitive grant process. The following positions are held by TRAPS: A. TRAPS takes the position of support of the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRP A) top legislative and advocacy priorities. a. Securing reliable federal investment in the local communities through matching grants, capital investments and appropriations for parks and recreation facilities, including proper funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state side account. b. Promote the benefits of parks and recreation to achieve national goals for healthy lifestyles, particularly the passage Childhood Obesity Reduction Act, the passage of the Prevention of Childhood Obesity Act, and passage of the Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act (IMPACT) all need to include park and recreation agencies as directly eligible entities. c. Ensure that Federal agency activities, including rulemaking, properly and appropriately advance national priorities for parks and recreation, particularly the for the SAFETEA - LU program. B. TRAPS takes the position of support of the NRPA call to action on the movement for Urban Parks and Recreation in America renewal as thousands of acres of urban park land for millions of people in 100 of the largest urban parks and recreation systems in America to reverse the neglect of our nation's cherished urban parks. a. Matching funds for urban park renewal b. Promote Health and Wellness. c. Stimulate Community and Economic Development. d. Protect the Urban Environment. e. Educate, Enrich, and Protect America's Youth