Congressional focus on recreation continued this week with the bipartisan introduction of the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act in both houses of Congress by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Representative Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI). This widely supported legislation removes barriers to outdoor recreation, making it easier for all Americans to experience and enjoy their great outdoors.
“Outdoor recreation is a major force in the nation’s economy, contributing $734 billion in output and supporting 4.5 million jobs,” said Jessica Wahl, Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “As our industry grows in popularity and economic impact, federal agencies need updated tools to provide sustainable and improved access to, and infrastructure on, America’s public lands and waters. The Recreation Not Red-Tape Act offers sensible, 21st century proposals for identifying and appropriately managing our unparalleled outdoor recreation assets now and into the future.”
“America Outdoors appreciates the inclusion of SOAR in Recreation Not Red-Tape and the bipartisan support that Senator Wyden and Representative Bishop have given to improving recreation access and the efficiency of recreation permitting programs on public lands,” said Julie Kahlfeldt, Executive Director. “America Outdoors is proud to be a principal in the broad coalition of recreation groups supporting this much-needed legislation.”
“Working to expand access to fishing opportunities on public lands is a top priority of the American Sportfishing Association, which is why we support the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act,” said Mike Leonard, Vice President of Government Affairs. “Recreational fishing is enjoyed by nearly 50 million Americans each year, and much of this activity takes place on federal lands. This bipartisan legislation makes a wide range of improvements to federal land policy that will ultimately help encourage more folks to enjoy the great American tradition of recreational fishing.”
“The Recreation Not Red-Tape Act will ensure that land managers prioritize recreational access so motorcyclists can continue to enjoy our federal lands,” said Tim Buche, President of the Motorcycle Industry Council. “According to recent government studies, outdoor recreation accounts for more than two percent of GDP and supports jobs in every state across the country. This legislation will ensure that our members’ recreational access is a priority.”
“Led by boating and fishing, outdoor recreation is one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. economy, and the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act will ensure this significant economic force continues to thrive,” said Nicole Vasilaros, Senior Vice President of Government and Legal Affairs for the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “We thank Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) for teaming up on commonsense legislation that would slash barriers to outdoor recreation access of all types and call on every member of Congress to support this bipartisan legislation.”
“We want people to know how easy and enjoyable it is to explore our public lands by bike, and the RNR Act accomplishes that by unifying the management and promotion of national recreation areas,” said Jenn Dice, Chief Operating Officer for PeopleForBikes. “When access for biking and outdoor recreation improves, everyone wins.”
“We know how important outdoor recreation is to our economy and we also know how important access to public lands is to millions of Americans,” said Erik Pritchard, President of the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association. “If enacted, the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act would remove barriers for volunteer participation and make it easier for managers to provide all sorts of recreational opportunities while benefiting off-highway enthusiasts and our nation’s economy.
“Twenty-five million Americans go RVing each year and many of their adventures lead them to our public lands and waters,” said Jay Landers, Vice President of Government Affairs for the RV Industry Association. “The Recreation Not Red-Tape Act will improve the experiences of these RVers by making recreation a priority on federal lands, improving recreational access and removing unnecessary barriers so all Americans can enjoy outdoor recreation experiences. Of particular importance to RVers, this bill tasks federal land agencies to develop management plans for extending the recreation season or increasing recreation use in a sustainable manner during the offseason. This provision will help address federal campground overcrowding threatening the growth of the $114 billion RV industry, which drives economic growth in the surrounding local communities and economies.”
“The Specialty Equipment Market Association welcomes the reintroduction of the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act,” said Daniel Ingber, Managing Director for Government & Legal Affairs. “This legislation will give lawmakers and land management agencies valuable tools to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens. Access to outdoor recreation will be enhanced, which will in turn produce significant economic benefits.”
“The Recreation Not Red-Tape Act is critical for our outdoor enthusiasts in the powersports industry and it will ensure that ATV riders will continue to have access to federal lands for responsible riding activities,” said Scott Schloegel, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America. “We welcome the bill’s introduction and look forward to working on its passage.”
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