Coles Encourages Passage of CARA on Capitol Steps

Conference of Mayors President and Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles joined with President Bill Clinton in pushing for Congressional passage of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA). With Mayor Coles at his side, the President called upon the Senate to pass CARA which would provide permanent annual funding for national, state, and local parks.

"We believe every community should have places that children can play in safety and that neighborhood parks and baseball fields are as common as cell phones and video games." stated President Clinton. "The Mayor of Boise is here. We worked with him to give him the funds to develop a 55-acre recreation complex so that children and parents have a place to enjoy the wonders of nature close to home."

The President challenged Congress to send him a bill that would provide an annual stream of money to communities without controversial anti-environment riders. Quoting former President Theodore Roosevelt, the President stated, "Our responsibilities to the coming millions is like that of parents to children. In wasting our resources, we are wronging our descendants."

Joining the President and Mayor Coles at the White House were a dozen other parks advocates including Senator Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day; Major League Baseball legend Gaylord Perry; and Frank Beamer, head coach of the nationally-ranked Virginia Tech Football team.

Following the Presidential announcement at the White House, Mayor Coles went to Capitol Hill to join hundreds of people at a rally on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in support of CARA. Speaking at the rally, Mayor Coles pledged that the "nation's mayors stand with you in supporting CARA" and will be working hard to see that the legislation is passed.