Kansas members of Congress should support America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2022
As summer begins to take hold, tens of millions of Americans — including millions of Kansans — are escaping their homes to explore and enjoy our country’s great outdoors. And while natural beauty will be in noticeable abundance, so too will it be clear to all that our outdoor ecosystem is facing very large challenges.
That is why the RV industry, along with outdoor recreation businesses, conservationists and enthusiasts that make up the $689 billion outdoor recreation economy, are calling upon Congress to pass America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2022, a bill that seeks to modernize and improve outdoor recreation on our federal lands.
These challenges are important to solve not only for outdoor enthusiasts but also for our overall economy. The RV Industry Association recently released our latest study showing the RV industry has an impressive $140 billion in annual economic output and pays over $47 billion each year in American wages.
In May, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act, the first comprehensive recreation package since 1963 to improve and expand America’s outdoor recreation economy while delivering sustainable economic boosts to rural communities.
Very soon, I hope, the bill will be passed through Congress and signed by the president.
The act addresses infrastructure investments, permitting processes, broadband connectivity at recreation sites and public-private partnerships — where appropriate — to renovate and operate campgrounds on federal lands. These measures are critical and will deliver long-term benefits for all Americans, particularly those in rural and underserved communities.
To better meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts, this bill will enable the updating and modernizing of infrastructure at national park campgrounds, better day-to-day upkeep of campgrounds, ability to accommodate EVs and other future technologies, and improved cell and Wi-Fi service for safety purposes, as well as for those choosing the great outdoors for their remote office.
In a post-COVID world where remote work is ubiquitous and many can work from anywhere, the need for more widely available cell and Wi-Fi service is imperative.
America’s Outdoor Recreation Act also calls for enabling park managers to extend shoulder seasons, so that camping opportunities do not come to a premature halt as visitors encounter “Closed for the Season” signs. It won’t quite be “endless summer,” but you get the idea.
These outdoor recreation solutions, which enjoy bipartisan support in Congress, not only promote the physical and mental health of individuals, but they also help to create healthy and sustainable economies in the rural “gateway” communities that surround national parks.
These are the small towns whose private campgrounds, local outfitters, restaurants and retail businesses support and rely on tourism. Many of the provisions in the act seek to encourage economic growth in these communities by providing financial and technical assistance, new entrepreneur and vocational training programs, and low-interest business loan programs.
If the 10 million first-time campers who experienced the great outdoors last year are any indication, Americans are rediscovering — and reprioritizing — outdoor recreation. Improving the management, access and infrastructure of federal lands and waters is vital for the enjoyment of current and future outdoor enthusiasts. The act will increase and improve opportunities for all Americans to RV, camp, hike, bike, boat, paddle, fish, hunt, ski and more.
The pandemic has shown what Americans value during challenging times; the great outdoors is something all of us share and where we have a mutual interest. But as outdoor recreation grows in popularity and economic impact, federal land management agencies need updated policy tools to protect and improve access to public lands.
America’s Outdoor Recreation Act is the most valuable policy tool in front of us right now. Kansas’ U.S. senators and representatives are some of the strongest supporters of outdoor recreation and I call upon Kansas members of Congress to continue their longstanding support of common-sense outdoor recreation policy by co-sponsoring America’s Outdoor Recreation Act.
Jeff Rutherford is president and CEO of Wichita-based Airxcel Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of RV components. Rutherford is also chairman of the board for the RV Industry Association.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas members of Congress must back America’s Outdoor Recreation Act
