Congressional Subcommittee Holds Hearing On Outdoor Recreation

On June 15, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chair of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion, held a hearing examining the state of outdoor tourism and the recreation industry. Witnesses – including Colin Robertson, Administrator of Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation, Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Glenn Hughes, President of the American Sportfishing Association; Joe Henry, Executive Director of Lake of the Woods Tourism; and Zachary Hartman, Chief Policy Officer of Ducks Unlimited – gave insight into the impact of outdoor recreation on local economies and discussed solutions for promoting the outdoor industry, investing in local communities, protecting our lands and waters, and supporting U.S. jobs and businesses. A transcript of the Senator’s opening statement can be found below, and a video of the Senator’s full exchange can be found here. 

ROSEN: Good afternoon everyone and welcome to today’s hearing on The State of Outdoor Tourism, Recreation, & Ecotourism. Today, we’ll examine the state of the outdoor tourism and recreation industry, including the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses and communities. We will review the contributions of outdoor recreation to local economies and discuss solutions for promoting the outdoor industry, investing in communities depending on outdoor tourism, protecting our lands and waters, and supporting U.S. jobs and businesses.

The outdoor recreation industry contributes $778 billion in economic output nationally and supports nearly 5.2 million American jobs, from guides to outfitters to manufacturers, of course our small business owners, and so many more. Because outdoor recreation serves as an outlet for individuals to enjoy natural spaces - especially this past year during this pandemic - and it also creates job opportunities and stimulates the travel and tourism economy that every single state depends upon.

Read the rest of the press release on Senator Jacky Rosen’s website here.