Changes impact ACA's agenda - American Camping Association

On January 4, 1995, the 104th Congress convened for what is expected to become the most active and radically changed Congress in near memory. Broad changes in House rules have already taken effect, including limitations on terms of committee chairmen, and requirements for open meetings. Major substantive changes in government operations, and restrictions on federal legislation are already in the works.

Wholesale scaledowns of federal agencies are likely. One indicator of the seriousness Congress is attaching to restructuring of the Federal government was Secretary Cisneros' announcement of a one-third cut of the Department of Housing and Urban Development staff - a move designed to preempt congressional consideration of department elimination.

Many of the changes we are seeing will have indirect if not direct impact on the ACA legislative agenda and strategies. Many Federal programs, including the summer food program, and HUD anticrime programs, are likely to be eliminated in favor of state block grants, with broad spending discretion at the state and local level.

There is substantial momentum behind legislation to control unfunded mandates - Federal legislation requiring statutory and regulatory compliance without funding support. S.1 and H.R. 5 would affect a host of agencies such as OSHA and EPA - who regulate workplace safety and drinking water - by requiring congressional review and recorded votes on future mandates. Senator Gramm (R-TX) has vowed to offer amendments to strengthen the legislation by requiring a super majority vote on mandates, and by creating authority to end existing mandates.

CDL Drug Testing

The Federal Highway Administration has commenced implementation of regulations requiring drug and alcohol testing of persons holding commercial drivers licenses.

All "large" employers - those with 50 or more drivers on March 17, 1994 - are required as of January 1, 1995 to implement new drug and alcohol testing procedures. All "small" employers - those with less than 50 drivers on March 17, 1994 - must implement the new procedures by January 1, 1996.

There are six types of testing:

* Pre-employment

* Random

* Accident

* Reasonable suspicion

* Return to duty

* Follow-up

All CDL holders must be tested when first employed before driving. Employers will be required, each year, to randomly test one of every four drivers for alcohol, and one of every two for drugs. Employers will also have post-accident testing obligations.

The regulations prohibit consumption of alcohol within four hours of duty, allow a maximum blood alcohol concentration of .04, prohibit possession of alcohol while on duty, or use within eight hours after an accident.

HUD

Major reorganization at HUD, coupled with momentum for state block grants instead of federal programming, make HUD grant availability highly uncertain at this stage. ACA is seeking to identify appropriate funding opportunities to enable more at-risk children to experience camp, and will continue to do so in conjunction with the new funding environment.

FICA

The new Republican chairs of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees are Bob Packwood (R-OR) and Bill Archer (R-TX), respectively. Senator Packwood has indicated his support for the ACA FICA initiative, and we are working to identify a means of advancing the proposal with his assistance. Likewise, we are using our strong ties to Texas camps to seek the support of Congressman Archer.

Several Social Security-related reforms are contemplated this year, which are likely to give us the procedural opportunity we need to advance this important initiative.

National Forest Access

Numerous camps are reporting increasing administrative burdens, if not outright denial of access to National Forest and wilderness areas. ACA is working, as of this writing, to seek the support of senior officials of the Department of Agriculture to alleviate these problems.

Reportedly, some Ranger Districts are experiencing severe budgetary problems, and are seeking to control use simply by denying access. Others have placed multi-year moratoriums on permit issuance, pending use management studies.

ACA and ACA accredited camps are committed to minimum-impact programming. Camps are a vital source of education for future generations, and stewardship for the National Forests. Our goal is to bring these realities to the attention of Washington, and work to facilitate our mutual interests of access and protection.

COPYRIGHT 1995 American Camping Association
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