On May 3, the same day the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the first recreation package, the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and its members released a video highlighting outdoor recreation activities and the outdoor recreation economy.
The video emphasizes ways the outdoor recreation industry boosts local and national economies as well as showcasing ways recreating outdoors has been a fun, healthful respite for many over the past two years, ORR said.
ORR and its members will promote the video on social media over the next several weeks.
“I do not think our nation has seen the positive impacts outdoor recreation has had on Americans’ physical, mental and economic health in such a tangible way as we have over the past several years,” said Jessica Turner, ORR president. “Now is the time to remind the nation and our elected officials how the outdoors and the recreation economy helped us get through the pandemic and how we can bring more to people, communities and economies with bills like the recreation package. We hope Americans continue to get outside to improve their lives. As the video states, nowadays we could all use a little less zoom and a little more vroom!”
ORR sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year, urging the group to pass the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2022 legislation as soon as possible.
The act includes the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, the Outdoor Recreation Act and Recreation Not Red-Tape.
ORR said the organization wanted the bill passed to manage existing conserved lands and waters, support businesses impacted by the pandemic and natural disasters, ensure better access to the outdoors, mitigate the impacts of climate change and create jobs by supporting rural economies and communities.
Turner said, “We applaud Chairman (Joe) Manchin and Ranking Member (John) Barrasso for crafting the first-ever Outdoor Recreation Package and helping to pass it out of committee. We now urge the full Congress to pass it this year to continue the tremendous momentum and impact of the outdoor recreation economy.”
