NPS Retirees: New Gov't Shutdown Survey Gets It Right - Most Americans Want National Parks Kept Open And Adequately Funded

Center for American Progress Research Supported by Coalition of National Park Service Retirees; Group Points to Strong Bipartisan Agreement on Key Questions

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new survey conducted by Hart Research Associates on behalf of the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows that the vast majority of Americans value the nation's national parks and want to see them adequately funded. Further the survey results show that Americans do not want national parks be used in partisan budget battles and or closed, according to the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR).

In the key survey finding, Hart Research Associates emphasizes the widespread public agreement that the shutdown highlighted the importance of national parks and public lands, including their contribution to local economies. Specifically, CNPSR highlighted the survey's finding that: "Voters overwhelmingly agree (82 percent, including 62 percent who strongly agree) that the closing of national parks during the government shutdown was a good reminder of how important the national parks are and why we need to keep them open."

CNPSR Chair Maureen Finnerty said: "The Hart Research Associates survey underscores what the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees knows from first-hand experience. Americans love their national parks and want them to be open and adequately funded.  Furthermore, Americans are sick and tired of those in Congress who use national parks and National Park Service employees as pawns in partisan budget showmanship games."

During the government shutdown, CNPSR issued national statements underscoring their belief in a shared, bipartisan, positive view of the National Park System. The new Hart Research Associates survey validates and reinforces the agreement among strong majorities of Democrats (90 percent), independents (77 percent), and Republicans (74 percent) alike, with respect for government doing everything in its power to keep our National Parks open and fully functioning.

Finnerty continued: "The Coalition highlighted the staggering hardships to the country's economy and negative impacts to people wanting to visit national parks during the government shutdown in October. The new survey emphatically makes the case that government shutdowns are not acceptable to the American public. The facts are clear and the case is closed:  America's national parks should never again be a political football in partisan budget battles."

ABOUT CNPSR

The over 900 members of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees are all former employees of the National Park Service with a combined 27,000 years of stewardship of America's most precious natural and cultural resources. In their personal lives, CNPSR members reflect the broad spectrum of skills and expertise that distinguished their National Park Service careers. CNPSR members now strive to apply their credibility and integrity as they speak out for national park solutions that uphold law and apply sound science. The Coalition counts among its members: former national park deputy directors, regional directors, superintendents, rangers and other career professionals who devoted an average of nearly 30 years each to protecting and interpreting America's national parks on behalf of the public. For more information, visit the CNPSR Web site at:

http://www.npsretirees.org
@CNPSRetirees    
https://www.facebook.com/NPSretirees

SOURCE Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, Washington, D.C.