127 Outdoor Recreation Businesses Urge House to Pass the Great American Outdoors Act
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – July 13, 2020 – 127 outdoor businesses sent a letter to House leadership
today urging passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). GAOA, if passed,
will stimulate the outdoor recreation industry and the thousands of small and
large businesses that comprise the growing industry. GAOA would also create
more safe and sustainable recreation access while improving infrastructure for
all Americans. The 127 cross-sector companies — included, among
others, Airstream, Bass Pro Shops, Brunswick, Cabela's, Columbia Sportswear,
Kampgrounds of America, Polaris Inc., Pure Fishing, The North Face, VF
Corporation, Winnebago, Yamaha. All of them signed on in order to highlight
that investments in conservation and recreation are needed to provide business
certainty so the recreation industry can get back to what it does
best — grow jobs, support healthy communities, economies and people,
and provide more opportunities for everyone to benefit from time spent
outside.
“Our
entire industry continues to spearhead support for GAOA — from skiers to
snowmobilers, hunters to hikers, campers to RVers and climbers to
motorcyclists,” said Jessica (Wahl) Turner, executive director of the
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR). “Businesses have been making calls,
running sign-on campaigns and sending letters. This unity in our business
community showcases the incredible things we can accomplish when we work
together. The House of Representatives has the opportunity to do something
that truly outlasts their time in office and that will benefit the nation for
decades to come by passing this once-in-a-generation legislation.”
As a
reminder, GAOA would provide a critical boost to what was, before the pandemic,
a $778 billion a year industry supporting 5.2 million jobs and accounting for
2.2% of United States Gross Domestic Product. According to Outdoor Recreation
Roundtable’s member survey and dashboard of
the sector, 94 percent of outdoor industry businesses have experienced a
decrease in sales and 88 percent have laid off or furloughed a portion of their
workforce. The entire outdoor recreation business community urges the House to
pass GAOA before the August recess to revitalize this critical sector of the
economy and provide more outdoor opportunities for all Americans when they are
needed most.
Full text of the outdoor businesses’ letter
and the list of signees is available here and
included below:
July 13, 2020
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
1236 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
2468 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear
Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy:
The
outdoor recreation industry is encouraged by the passage of the Great American
Outdoors Act in the Senate and urges clean passage of this landmark legislation
through the House as soon as possible. As outdoor recreation business leaders,
we know investments in recreation access and infrastructure are vital to the
outdoor recreation industry and economies across the country.
Prior to
the COVID-19 outbreak, the outdoor recreation industry contributed $778 billion
in economic output, accounted for 2.2 percent of United States Gross Domestic
Product, supported 5.2 million jobs and was growing faster than the economy as
a whole in every indicator. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic
and shutdowns necessary to slow its progression, America’s outdoor recreation
economy was hindered when we needed the outdoors more than ever. Outdoor
Recreation Roundtable’s May survey of the sector shows that 88 percent of
outdoor businesses have had to lay off or furlough employees, and 94 percent
are seeing decreased revenue. However, we know there is a bright future for
outdoor recreation ahead, as several sectors of the industry are already
experiencing rapidly increasing demand.
These
outdoor businesses are the backbone of our industry and range from specialty
retailers, apparel, gear and vehicle manufacturers, outfitters and guides to
campground and marina operators. They are often foundational to a community’s
economy. With rising unemployment and Americans eager to experience the
outdoors, investment in our industry’s core infrastructure – public lands and
waters – will allow our businesses to get back to what we do best: stimulate
local economies, put people back to work, and allow Americans to benefit from
time spent outside.
This is
why we respectfully ask you to vote “yes” on the Great American Outdoors Act.
GAOA will
fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million
annually, providing more recreation access for communities across the country
and fueling more outdoor recreation economic activity. In a nutshell, if
Congress invests the intended amount of $900 million into LWCF recreation
access projects on local, state and federal lands, it will create much-needed
close-to-home recreation opportunities while revitalizing the outdoor
recreation economy.
Additionally,
GAOA dedicates up to $9.5 billion over the next five years to maintenance
backlog projects that have been devastating our public lands and waters.
Investing in these projects will improve outdoor recreation-related facilities
such as docks, restrooms, campgrounds, trails, roads and more that have
deteriorated significantly from decades of underfunded maintenance. As business
leaders, we understand the need to make sure customers have good experiences
when they visit stores or facilities, it ensures they come back again. Funding
the maintenance backlog will also ensure that adequate infrastructure for all
types of recreation on our public lands and waters exists so more people who
are seeking the benefits the outdoors has to offer can get outside safely and
grow our industry sustainably.
Passing
GAOA now would stimulate the outdoor recreation industry made up of thousands
of businesses that support communities in all 50 states, support rural
economies, create jobs to carry out essential work, and provide opportunities
for millions of Americans to recreate on our public lands and waters for
generations to come. We know this vital legislation is slated for a vote later
this month and we urge you to move as quickly as possible to get this
legislation across the finish line. Your support of GAOA is a vote for American
jobs and health, community resiliency and the outdoor recreation economy. Thank
you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
Airstream, Inc.
Allen Harbor Marine
Service
Alta Planning +
Design, Inc.
American Land &
Leisure
ARAMARK
Arc’teryx Equipment
Inc.
Areté Structures, LLC
BA Services, Inc.
Bass Pro Shops
Bell Helmets
Blackburn Design
Blue Springs Marine
Boat Owners
Association of the United States
Boat Owners Warehouse
Boats Incorporated
Brunswick Corporation
Burton Snowboarding
Cabela’s
California Land
Management
CamelBak
Camperland of Oklahoma
Chaparral Boats, Inc.
CHM Government
Services
Chris-Craft
Clark Marine
Cleveland Boat Center
Columbia Sportswear
Correct Craft
Creative Pultrusions
Crestview RV
Dee Zee, Inc.
Delaware North Parks
and Resorts
Eagle Claw Fishing
Tackle
FB Marine Group
FERA
First Lite
Forest River, Inc.
Forever Resorts
Formula Boats
Fort Sumter Tours
Freedom Boat Club
Galati Yacht Sales
Giro Sport Design
Glacier Guides &
Montana Raft
Grand Design RV
Guest Services, Inc.
Hagadone Marine Group
Handout
Gloves
Head USA
Hellwig Products
Company Inc.
Hemlock Hill RV Sales
Hipcamp
Hoffmaster’s Marina
Hornblower Cruises and
Events
Indian Lake Marina,
Inc
Indmar Products
K2 Sports
Kampgrounds of
America, Inc.
Kawasaki Motors Corp.,
U.S.A.
KEEN, Inc.
Lakeview Marine, Inc.
Leaird’s Underwater Service
LKQ
Corporation
Magic
Tilt Trailers
Malibu Boats, Inc.
Marina Holdings
Marine Center of
Indiana
Maverick Boat Group,
Inc.
Morningstar Marinas
Mount Dora Boating
Center
N3 Boatworks
Nantahala Outdoor
Center
National Outdoor
Leadership School
Newmar Corporation
Norfolk Marine Company
Oasis Marinas
Outdoor Research
Patagonia
Petzl America
Plano Synergy
Polaris Inc.
Port Harbor Marine
Priority RV Network
Pure Fishing
Quality Bicycle
Products
Rapala USA
Recreation Resource
Management
Red’s Meadow Resort
Reed’s Marine, Inc.
Regulator Marine, Inc.
REI
Rendezvous River
Sports
Rhino Marking &
Protection Systems
Rock Creek Lodge
Santa Barbara
Adventure Company
Scuba Educators International
Seirus
Innovative Accessories, Inc.
Shimano North America
Fishing
Simms Fishing
Skyjacker Suspensions
Smoker Craft
SpiritLine Cruises
SRAM LLC
St. Croix Rods
Subaru of America
Sun RV Resorts
Superior Boat Repair
& Sales
Suzuki Motor of
America, Inc.
The North Face
The Sportsman
Thor Industries
Tiara Yachts &
Tiara Sport
Trek Bikes
Turn 14 Distribution
Inc.
VF Corporation
Vista Outdoor
Volvo Penta of the Americas
WARN Industries
Western Spirit Cycling
Adventures
Westrec Marinas
WET River Trips
Wildwater River Guides
Winnebago Industries
Xanterra Travel
Collection
Yamaha Rightwaters
Yogi Bear's Jellystone
Parks
Zebco Brands
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable promotes
the growth of the outdoor recreation economy and outdoor recreation activities
and is the leading outdoor recreation coalition with 32 member associations
serving over 100,000 businesses. ORR’s members represent America’s hunting,
fishing, RVing, biking, hiking, camping, ATVing, diving, horseback and skiing
communities among many more.