Senate Passes Great American Outdoors Act

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Outdoor recreation got a major boost last week when the U.S. Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which would address the $20 billion maintenance backlog on federal public lands and would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

"Trails and facilities on our public lands have deteriorated after years of wear and tear and insufficient funding," said Scott Schloegel, MIC senior vice president of government relations. "The GAOA will help fix that, improving access for motorcycle, ATV, and side-by-side enthusiasts, families, and everyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors safely and closer to home in many cases. It will also help reinvigorate the outdoor recreation economy, which, before the coronavirus pandemic hit, contributed $778 billion to the U.S. economy."

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable members, including the Motorcycle Industry Council, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, were at the forefront of this landmark legislation, leading the effort to include maintenance backlog funding for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

More than 100 outdoor recreation businesses, including Polaris Inc., Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., and Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., voiced support for the GAOA in a letter to the Senate. Outdoor recreation industries are now urging the U.S. House of Representatives, which plans to take up the bill in late July, to pass this measure. Read the full Outdoor Recreation Roundtable release on the Senate passage here.

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Motorcycle Industry Council press release on the Great American Outdoors Act

Off-Highway Community Wins Big in Washington 


Celebrations are in order for more than 800 groups representing state and regional tourism, local businesses, veterans, sports enthusiasts, engineering and planning firms, conservation organizations, and the outdoor recreation industry. The Great American Outdoors Act, one of the biggest land conservation bills in a generation, became law this month after it was passed by huge bipartisan majorities.


More than 100,000 new jobs nationwide are forecast for an outdoor recreation economy that has struggled during the pandemic, just as Americans are seeking more opportunities to get outside and visit rural communities, parks, and wilderness. For off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, the GAOA goes a long way toward addressing the $20 billion deferred maintenance backlog confronting public lands and waters. It will build up infrastructure and improve many trails and areas enjoyed by motorcycle and ATV riders and side-by-side drivers.


The second big achievement with the GAOA is that it permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund with $900 million every year.


The GAOA does this without raising taxes and without taxpayer money. Financing comes from mineral revenues and royalties from energy development on federal lands and waters. The process was established by the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, and the GAOA earmarks a portion of those revenues for these outdoor recreational improvements.


Funds for federal land acquisition will go to protecting lands within the existing boundaries of federal parks, refuges, forests, and other recreation areas. And thousands of acres of public land can be opened up for outdoor recreation access through relatively small land purchases. Costs can even drop for maintenance and workers by reducing boundary conflicts, simplifying resource management, and easing access to and through public lands for agency employees and the public.


"There's so much to celebrate here," said Scott Schloegel, senior vice president of the MIC Government Relations Office. "Our powersports enthusiasts will benefit from the improved trails, riding and driving areas across national forests, parks, and other lands. This is a shot in the arm for the entire outdoor recreation industry that, prior to the pandemic, contributed $778 billion in economic output, accounted for 2.2 percent of U.S. gross domestic product, supported 5.2 million jobs, and was growing faster than the economy as a whole in every indicator."


"We, along with other members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, will be meeting with officials from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. National Park Service, and other federal agencies to stress our priorities for funding under the GAOA," Schloegel said. "If you have specific federal maintenance backlog priorities that need addressing, please feel free to email suggestions to your local or regional agency office and copy us at MICGRO@mic.org."

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ORR Applauds Senate's Bipartisan Effort

Today, the Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by a bipartisan vote of 73-25. ORR members were at the forefront of this landmark legislation, leading the effort to include maintenance backlog funding for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; bringing together more than 100 outdoor recreation businesses in support of GAOA; garnering Senate support and much more. We thank all of our members for their tireless work to pass this legislation.

"The Great American Outdoors Act is the single greatest piece of conservation and outdoor recreation legislation before Congress in decades," said Jessica Turner, executive director of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. "Its overwhelmingly bipartisan passage in the Senate is proof that the outdoors crosses party lines and resonates with all Americans. We applaud Senate Republicans and Democrats for working together tirelessly to get this done. The entire outdoor recreation industry thanks every Senator who supported this bill and urges the House to move quickly to pass this measure so we can finally fully fund LWCF and begin the much-needed work on rebuilding infrastructure on our public lands and waters."

read the orginal article here:  https://recreationroundtable.org/senate-passes-great-american-outdoors-act/

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) is America's leading coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations and organizations working to promote the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor recreation activities.

https://recreationroundtable.org/about-us/