ORR Wants To Cut the Red Tape To Getting Outside

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Outdoor Recreation Roundtable threw its support behind Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Blake Moore’s (R-UT) reintroduced Recreation Not Red Tape Act to lower obstacles for people to recreate in, improve and prioritize the outdoors. The bill tackles cumbersome permitting and other processes for outdoor guides, as well as trail and forest maintenance while encouraging the federal land and water management agencies to prioritize outdoor recreation and access. Lowering barriers, improving management and streamlining access will help outdoor recreation contribute even more to economic recovery, jobs, and healthy people and communities.

“Outdoor recreation is a major force in the nation’s economy, contributing $788 billion in economic output and supporting 5.2 million jobs. As our industry grows in popularity and economic impact, federal agencies need updated tools to provide sustainable and improved access to, and infrastructure on, America’s public lands and waters,” said Jessica Turner, executive director of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “The Recreation Not Red Tape Act offers sensible, 21st century proposals for identifying and appropriately managing our unparalleled outdoor recreation assets now and into the future.” 

“The $122 billion horse industry applauds Sen. Wyden’s (D-OR) and Rep. Moore’s (R-UT) re-introduction of the bipartisan ‘Recreation Not Red Tape (RNR) Act,’ an important bill that leverages taxpayer dollars by promoting the role of volunteers in trail maintenance,” stated Jean Ligon, President of the Michigan Horse Council and Chair of the American Horse Council’s (AHC) Recreation, Trails and Land-Use Committee. “According to a 2017 economic impact study, the nation’s recreational riders account for 13 million U.S. households.  This will prove to be an invaluable resource to promote stewardship of the nation’s public trails,” stated Julie Broadway, AHC President.  

“The ATA applauds Senator Wyden and Congressman Moore for the introduction of this common-sense legislation”, said Matt Kormann, President and CEO of the Archery Trade Association. “Collectively, the innovative changes targeted in this legislation will further enhance the customer experience and accessibility for recreating on our nation’s incredible array of public lands.”

“At a time when millions of Americans are seeking the health and wellness benefits provided by activities like boating and fishing, we must seize every opportunity to reasonably and responsibly expand access to outdoor recreation, which is exactly what the Recreation Not Red Tape Act (RNR) will accomplish,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “As we head into peak outdoor recreation season, there is no better time for Congress to swiftly pass this measure and deliver the significant economic contributions generated by these activities to the communities that need them the most.”

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans embraced the outdoors as a place to spend their time and improve their mental and physical well-being,” said Lise Aangeenbrug, executive director of Outdoor Industry Association. “As a result, the outdoor community is welcoming many new participants including more women, more ethnically diverse groups, and those who live in urban communities. Building on this historic momentum requires a commitment to expanding access to these outdoor spaces for people of all walks of life. This important legislation does just that by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and prioritizing outdoor recreation, as well as ensuring the $778 billion outdoor industry and its 5.2 million workers can continue to be a key part of our nation’s economic recovery.”

"As enjoyment of our public lands and participation in bicycling and outdoor recreation grow, we need federal action to keep up with demand. PeopleForBikes supports the Recreation not Red Tape Act from Senator Wyden and Congressman Moore because it will make it easier to designate National Recreation Areas, expand access to the outdoors and promote local economic development," said Noa Banayan, director of federal affairs at PeopleForBikes.

“Sixty-five million Americans will go RVing this year and many of their adventures lead them to our public lands and waters,” said Jay Landers, RV Industry Association Vice President of Government Affairs. “The Recreation Not Red Tape Act will improve the experiences of these RVers by making recreation a priority on federal lands, improving recreational access, and removing unnecessary barriers so all Americans can enjoy outdoor recreation experiences. Of particular importance to RVers, this bill tasks federal land agencies to develop management plans for extending the recreation season or increasing recreation use in a sustainable manner during the offseason. This provision will help address federal campground overcrowding threatening the growth of the $114 billion RV industry, which drives economic growth in the surrounding local communities and economies."

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable promotes the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor recreation activities and is the leading outdoor recreation coalition with 33 member associations serving over 110,000 businesses. ORR’s members represent America’s hunting, fishing, RVing, biking, hiking, camping, ATVing, diving, horseback and skiing communities among many more.