STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION PRINCIPLES
LANDS LEGACY LEGISLATION FOR FY 2001 AND BEYOND

• Legislation must create a permanent funding stream, within the context of a balanced budget, of at least $1 billion annually beginning in fiscal year 2001
• Legislation should specify a generally equal allocation of funding between 1) federal land acquisition; and 2) funding for state, local, and tribal governments to acquire, protect, or restore open space, greenways, urban and community forests and parks, wildlife habitat, coastal wetlands, farmland protection and sustainable forests.
• Legislation should provide funding for various tools for state, local, and tribal communities to protect their open space and natural resources in the manner most appropriate to their area, including the ability to acquire less than fee simple interest in land. The range of tools and programs should be similar in scope to those proposed in the President's Budget for FY 2000.
• Legislation should protect wildlife by providing funding to support the health and diversity of habitat for at-risk and nongame species.
• Legislation should provide support for open space planning that is integrated with other planning, land protection, and smart growth efforts. Funding to states and tribes for planning must encourage consideration of open space preservation, habitat protection, and the identification of appropriate corridors for growth.
• In recognition of the unique environmental needs of coastal states, legislation should include specific programs and partnerships designed to assist in coastal environmental protection, conservation, and restoration. The range of tools and programs should be similar in scope to those proposed in the Presidents Budget for FY 2000. This allocation must be equitable considering the national needs of all states, and should not preclude the coastal states ftom competing for the other general grants available to all states.
• Legislation must provide incentives for leveraging the federal ffinding to state, local, and tribal governments to the maximum extent possible through matching fhnds, and partnerships with governmental or private, non-governmental entities including land trusts.
• The program established by the legislation should contain no incentive for additional offshore oil or gas exploration or development, which should continue to be governed solely by existing law and procedures.