The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable hosted a briefing with Washington legislators Wednesday morning, an event titled, “Capitol Hill Briefing Discussing Outdoor Recreation Policy Objectives Issues.”
The briefing included opening remarks by RVIA Government Affairs Director Jay Landers, who began by asking what the most impactful and bipartisan law Congress passed last year was. His answer was the Great American Outdoors Act.
“Revitalizing America’s outdoor infrastructure represents the best opportunity for Congress to pass bipartisan, signature infrastructure legislation,” he said.
Landers said outdoors infrastructure connects communities and helps drive the recreational economy. Infrastructure, he said, will be key to the outdoor recreation economy’s growth.
“We have seen people realize they can work and teach from their RVs on the road for a great outdoors experience,” he said. “It is why ensuring access to the outdoors is so, so critical.”
Landers said the RV industry was excited about upcoming modernization in national parks and campgrounds. Outdoor recreation also drives jobs in the country, he said.
“RV manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and campgrounds all are growing and growing fast,” Landers said.
The industry has faced supply chain constraints, an area Landers noted as well.
“We need bigger and bolder investment in many of our collective supply chains,” he told legislative representatives on the briefing’s Zoom call.
National Marine Manufacturers Association President Frank Hugelmeyer added Americans in 2020 were forced to choose what was important to them, and outdoor recreation “clearly made the cut.”
“It’s imperative policy makers understand what truly drives the economy and what opportunities exist … and that means outdoor recreation investment,” he said.
