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Congress passes $180 Million trails trust fund
CONGRESS PASSES $180 MILLIONTRAILS TRUST FUND The Steve Symms National Recreation Trails Act of 1991, which created a new trails trust fund and was passed into law late last year, provides a substantial boost to the trail riding community. The fund, part of the landmark $151 billion surface transportation act, could provide up to $180 million to states for trail maintenance, repair, and construction over the next six years. The Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of the Interior, will administer the fund and allocate the grant moneys. The fund will be derived from the federal excise tax collected on fuel used in nonhighway recreation. The trails legislation was championed by U.S. Senator Steve Symms (RID), and strongly supported by theAmerican Horse Council. The principal proponents of the trails fund have been the American Horse Council and the American Recreation Coalition's Trails Task Force, headed by Roy Muth of the International Snowmobile Industry Association. The legislation limits the total obligation to $30 million annually during fiscal years 1992 through 1997. Unfortunately, outlays will be subject to the annual appropriations process which means funding must be applied for each year. Efforts are underway to get this changed to an automatic appropriation. It is unlikely that funding will be available in 1992 because no money has been appropriated at this time. While this is a drawback, the extra year will allow for the development of regulations to ensure a fair distribution of funds. AHC suggests that in the meantime, trail riders should begin to focus on a couple of things. First, determine which
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agency within your state government you as equestrians feel most comfortable having in charge of the Trust Fund program. Under the law, the state governor will appoint an agency to oversee the state's participation in the program. All proposals for funding will go through the selected agency. Therefore, each state horse industry should establish a relationship with the agency responsible for the program. If you have an agency in mind, askthe them to request that the program be housed with them. Write your governor requesting that the program be placed with the agency of your choice. The second area needing attention is trails coalitions. Trail riders should begin building coalitions with other trail users in the area and state. By joining forces now, a lot of future work can be eliminated. User coalitions can help determine needs
and priorities to later be passed on to the state advisory board. They also identify problems and assist in developing conflict solutions. At the national level, the Coalition for Recreations Trails (CRT) has been established to ensure that the provisions of the Symms Act are carried out and that the program receives funding that is adequate to meet the needs of the nation's trail users. The American Horse Council is a founding member of CRT. Work is underway to establish a national trails advisory council. The selection process has not begun, but the American Hose Council would like to assist in the nomination process and will be developing selection criteria so that the best representatives of the equestrian trail riding community will be nominated. The Council would like to have nominations submitted to the AHC before giving them to the Federal Highway Administration.
(FHWA) The AHC has already met with the FHWA regarding implementation of the trails fund. AHC expressed enthusiasm for the fund, and were pleased that an official in charge of the program is an avid horseback rider.
NEW EXECUTIVEDIRECTOROF AMERICANHORSE SHOWS ASSOCIATION Bonnie J. Blake is the new executive director of the American Horse Shows Association replacing Chrystin J. Tauber, who resigned the position in November of 1991. Blake, 31, has been with the American Horse Shows Association for seven years. She was technical director for five years before being named assistant executive director in 1990, and has served as AHSA's official delegate to the U.S. Olympic Committee.
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agency within your state government you as equestrians feel most comfortable having in charge of the Trust Fund program. Under the law, the state governor will appoint an agency to oversee the state's participation in the program. All proposals for funding will go through the selected agency. Therefore, each state horse industry should establish a relationship with the agency responsible for the program. If you have an agency in mind, askthe them to request that the program be housed with them. Write your governor requesting that the program be placed with the agency of your choice. The second area needing attention is trails coalitions. Trail riders should begin building coalitions with other trail users in the area and state. By joining forces now, a lot of future work can be eliminated. User coalitions can help determine needs
and priorities to later be passed on to the state advisory board. They also identify problems and assist in developing conflict solutions. At the national level, the Coalition for Recreations Trails (CRT) has been established to ensure that the provisions of the Symms Act are carried out and that the program receives funding that is adequate to meet the needs of the nation's trail users. The American Horse Council is a founding member of CRT. Work is underway to establish a national trails advisory council. The selection process has not begun, but the American Hose Council would like to assist in the nomination process and will be developing selection criteria so that the best representatives of the equestrian trail riding community will be nominated. The Council would like to have nominations submitted to the AHC before giving them to the Federal Highway Administration.
(FHWA) The AHC has already met with the FHWA regarding implementation of the trails fund. AHC expressed enthusiasm for the fund, and were pleased that an official in charge of the program is an avid horseback rider.
NEW EXECUTIVEDIRECTOROF AMERICANHORSE SHOWS ASSOCIATION Bonnie J. Blake is the new executive director of the American Horse Shows Association replacing Chrystin J. Tauber, who resigned the position in November of 1991. Blake, 31, has been with the American Horse Shows Association for seven years. She was technical director for five years before being named assistant executive director in 1990, and has served as AHSA's official delegate to the U.S. Olympic Committee.
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