Key Outdoor Access Bill Passes House Natural Resources Committee

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and the RV Industry applaud the passage out of committee of the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, H.R. 3670, a bill that will greatly improve access for Americans to the outdoors. The bill was passed unanimously out of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.

“The SOAR Act, which includes several provisions from Recreation Not Red Tape Act, expands access to outdoor experiences by modernizing antiquated systems within the federal government that have created unnecessary barriers to accessing the outdoors for all Americans,” said RV Industry Association Director of Federal Affairs Chris Bornemann. “This piece of legislation is a critical first step towards passing a vital outdoor recreation package, while also streamlining processes by cutting red tape and expanding the shoulder seasons, where appropriate, which will help with overcrowding and provide more opportunities for RVers to visit and camp at our nation’s iconic national parks, forests, and public lands.”

“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 ORR Executive Director Jessica Turner. “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.