Bending for the Environment

Good federal legislation too often is doomed by the clash of ideologies. Those on the extremes usually would rather fight than compromise, leaving everyone empty-handed. But Reps. Don Young (R-Alaska) and George Miller (D-Martinez) have demonstrated that even the most rigid ideological barriers can be breached to write compromise legislation that benefits the nation.

Young and Miller are polar opposites when it comes to federal regulation of the environment. Miller was a hero of environmentalists as chairman of the House Resources Committee when Democrats wielded the power in Congress. Young, the ranking Republican, was the villain. When Republicans won control of Congress in 1994, Young took over the chairmanship.

Now, the two have scored a historic breakthrough after months of tough negotiations on a bill that would channel half of federal receipts from offshore oil operations--about $3 billion a year--to the place they belonged all along, to protection of the environment and land acquisition.

The measure, H.R. 701, would guarantee that $900 million in oil receipts would go into the Land and Water Conservation Fund every year. This was Congress’ intent a quarter-century ago when it established the fund, but it never happened. More than half the money was siphoned off each year for other programs.

The Young-Miller plan would also allocate $1 billion a year in state coastal impact assistance, $350 million for state wildlife conservation and restoration, $125 million for urban parks and recreation and $100 million for state and federal historic preservation.

All states would benefit, but coastal states would get the most. Both California and Alaska would be major recipients of these funds, a fact that forms a common ground for Young and Miller. California would receive an estimated $320 million a year.

The bill has won committee approval on a vote of 37 to 17. The goal is to win final passage sometime next year. This will not be easy because many Republicans still oppose the plan. And the environmental community is divided, with foes overly concerned about possible loopholes despite the reassurances of both authors. The bill may indeed be less than perfect, but no “perfect” bill can ever pass.

In fact, the Young-Miller bill is about as good as it gets in this fractious Congress. Lawmakers should seize the opportunity to pass the landmark legislation. Future generations would be grateful.