Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) statement on U.S. House Natural Resources Committee markup of a bill that will greatly improve access for Americans to the outdoors, H.R. 3670, the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act.
“This House markup is a critical first step to improving access for the American public and updated tools for federal agencies to manage our shared lands and waters for recreation,” said Jessica Turner, executive director of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “The industry knows there is an urgent need to quickly move this bill because it will help ensure the continued growth of this $788 billion sector, offer diverse communities access to outdoor recreation and help to manage overcrowding at some recreation locations. All of this will provide some relief for businesses and communities hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and those struggling with the impacts of climate change.”
Turner continued, “We applaud Congressman Neguse and the entire committee for its swift and unanimous passage of this bill and look forward to a recreation package coming together by the end of the year that would truly be a legacy achievement for the committee and the national outdoor recreation economy.”
ORR has sent a letter signed by nearly 30 members to the committee detailing the importance of this legislation to the outdoor recreation economy, the American public, and rural communities across the country.