Bills are important step to getting a first-ever recreation package across the finish line
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s Senior Director, Ambreen Tariq, testified in support of two key outdoor recreation bills in the House Committee on Natural Resources today – the Improving Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act (H.R. 3107) and the Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act (H.R. 3200). The two bills would help the federal government work better for businesses, states, the communities who rely on outdoor recreation infrastructure, lands and waters, and the American people who enjoy them.
Regarding H.R. 3107 Ambreen in part said, “The Improving Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act is about breaking down government silos so we can see a better return on investment for taxpayer dollars and come up with the best policies for our industries’ biggest opportunities and challenges. This legislation will result in better management of our federal lands and waters, more coordinated policies across federal agencies, and valuable interactions with non-federal partners.”
Regarding H.R. 3200 Ambreen in part said, “The Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act will help communities plan for recreation in ways that support key areas like housing, over-crowding, and workforce development.”
Overall: “I would also like to express our appreciation to the sponsors of these bipartisan pieces of legislation – Representatives Zinke, Peltola, Neguse, Lawler, and more – whose leadership on these bills will help strengthen coordination and focus on the recreation economy for both federal agencies and rural communities…Both recreation bills discussed today are wins for Republicans and Democrats, American businesses, and the American people – not just today’s recreationists but also future generations of outdoor lovers who we hope will gain the same benefits we do from time spent in nature.”
ORR urges members to swiftly pass these bills and package them with other bipartisan recreation priorities that don’t cost taxpayers a dime, into a recreation package by the end of the year.