Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today heard testimony in favor of legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman that would help the National Cave and Karst Research Institute in Carlsbad successfully compete for increased federal funding. U.S. Senator Pete Domenici is a cosponsor of the bill.

In 1997, Bingaman introduced the bill -- which was later signed into law -- that created the National Cave and Karst Research Institute. The bill required the Institute to seek outside funding to match the federal dollars invested in the research performed there.

While the Institute has been successful in securing federal funds, the 50 percent matching requirement has prevented it from competing for additional federal grant opportunities. The Senator’s legislation before the committee today seeks to eliminate the matching requirement in order to help the Institute achieve its full potential.

In her testimony, Karen Taylor-Goodrich, Associate Director of Visitor and Resource Protection at the National Park Service acknowledged that the 50 percent matching requirement “has had a chilling effect on the ability of the Institute to partner and collaborate on mutually beneficial projects and initiatives with federal agencies.”

“I am pleased that the administration agrees that federal funding is vital in helping advance the Cave and Karst Institute’s goals, and is willing to make it easier to invest federal dollars in research performed there,” said Bingaman, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resource Committee.

“This bill would make it easier for the Cave and Karst Institute to carry out its important work. Today’s testimony should allow us to move forward with gaining Senate approval of this bill,” said Domenici, ranking member of the committee.

The goals of the Cave and Karst Institute are to maintain a scientific knowledge of cave resources, participate in and facilitate research projects, and promote environmentally sound, sustainable resource management practices.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to vote on the bill this summer.