I guess its all in how one looks at "appropriations". Considering the fact that the Federal Government has allowed hundreds of lights, some considered national landmarks, to fall in disrepair and final distruction, I don't think that $12,000,000 should be considered unreasonable or unfair. Afterall, the National Academy of Sciences recommended as far back as 1987 that the only true option was to relocate CH. Then it took 11 years to get the funding from Congress. I guess when you look at the CH "appropriation" in one fiscal year, its alot of money.....but....when you consider how much the feds have spent on lighthouses preservation over the past, say, 30 years.....its a rather small amount when pro-rated out.