To watch or download the exchange click here

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, in a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) committee, U.S. Senator Angus King commended Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on her department’s decision to listen to Maine fisherman and the Maine Delegation about the impacts of off-shore wind leasing in high traffic economic zones. Senator King then pressed the Secretary on what she is doing to properly refund the maintenance budgets for America’s national parks after the release of a lackluster FY2025 budget request.

Senator King began his testimony by discussing the importance of listening to the people in Maine. Governor Janet Mills and the Maine Congressional Delegation have said that clean energy can offer economic and environmental benefits for Maine, if pursued prudently and responsibly with a commitment to minimizing impacts on fishing, recreation, and other crucial ocean uses to the greatest extent possible. 

“This week the Department published draft wind lease areas on the east coast—two off the shore of Maine and six off the coast of Massachusetts. What I want to compliment you on is listening to the people of Maine, listening to our congressional delegation, and taking those lease areas out of what’s called Lobster Management Area One. That was important to us, as we pursue our offshore wind goals, that they be done compatibly and responsibly with regard to our important fisheries. So, the fact the Department removed potential lease sites from Lobster Management One is a big deal in Maine and I want to express appreciation to the department for that. That's the good news,” said Senator King.

Lobster Management Area 1 (LMA 1) is a critical and highly productive fishing ground for a variety of sea life, including lobster. Keeping offshore wind development out of LMA 1 helps to avoid the majority of conflict with the New England commercial and recreational fishing industries.

Senator King has been working extensively with the Maine Delegation to protect the lobster fishery from offshore wind development in LMA 1. He previously urged the administration to study sustainable offshore wind development. Most recently, the Delegation announced the federal decision to exclude critical Maine fishing grounds from commercial offshore wind leasing. The decision follows letters from June and November 2023, in which Governor Mills and the Maine Congressional Delegation urged BOEM to remove LMA 1 and other areas from any further consideration for commercial offshore wind leasing and to fully consider the views and concerns of Maine fishing communities while it weighed leasing areas.

Senator King, also the Chair of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, then asked Secretary Haaland about the Department’s strategy to properly refund the maintenance budgets for our America’s national parks.

Senator King began, “I was one of the folks that worked very hard on the Great American Outdoors Act and a key part of the Great American Outdoors Act was a fund to deal with deferred maintenance in our national parks, which was and is a very serious problem. Here's the problem. Your budget underfunds maintenance, so we’re digging a hole again. I don't know if this is in the expectation that we are going to be able to do another Great American Outdoors Act or that there will be a ‘good fairy’ to come and take care of the maintenance. The maintenance budget is way below what it should be. A kind of rule of thumb for businesses is 2% of the asset value for annual maintenance. In that case, it would be a $4-5 billion budget instead, it's a $569 million budget. In other words, we are finding about 10% of what should be the maintenance for our national parks.”

“I've talked to the Office of Management and Budget about this, I’ve talked to your department about this. I hope next year when you’re proposing a budget you’re going to fight for an adequate maintenance budget for national parks. It does not make sense on any level to be continuing to defer maintenance on our gem properties across the country. Will you commit to aggressively fight for a decent maintenance budget?” Senator King asked.

Secretary Haaland responded, “We are so grateful for GAOA and understand how important it is. I want you to know that the budget does balance the continuing commitment to address the backlog through all sources of funding. In addition to the $1.3 billion from the GAOA Legacy Restoration Fund, the budget proposes over $993 million to prevent or eliminate deferred maintenance from multiple sources including line item construction, cyclic maintenance, federal lands, Recreation Enhancement Act, and the federal lands transportation.”

Senator King replied, “We will continue to discuss. I believe that the fundamental maintenance budget is below where it should be and we are simply digging the deferred maintenance hole once again in contravention to the intent of the Great American Outdoors Act.”

As Chair of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, Senator King has been a vocal advocate for preserving public lands and encouraging outdoor recreation. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation includes the Restore Our Parks Act – a bill led by King – and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act. Because of his work, in 2020, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation (NPF) “Hero” Award. The historic legislative package continues Senator King’s career-long focus on conservation efforts, dating back to his work prior to running for elected office through his years as Governor and his service in the Senate.

###