HOUSE PASSES LANDMARK GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT
Late Wednesday afternoon (July 22), the U.S. House of Representatives took significant action to address campground modernization and deferred maintenance on public lands with the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by a vote of 310-107, according to a News & Insights report by the RV Industry Association (RVIA),The bill, which will provide the largest investment in our iconic public lands in over a century, was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate last month and now heads to the White House. President Trump previously has indicated his support of the legislation.
The Great American Outdoors Act will invest up to $9.5 billion of nontaxpayer funds to address the infrastructure within the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other federal agencies. The bill will also fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide $900 million per year in investment in the public lands, parks, and trails that are the backbone of the outdoor recreation economy.
Craig Kirby
“If you’re an RVer, or any kind of outdoor recreation enthusiast, the Great American Outdoors Act is the best thing to happen to our community in six decades,” said RVIA President Craig Kirby. “Thank you to those Members of Congress who voted in favor of this landmark legislation that will direct significant funds toward critical deferred maintenance and campground modernization needs on our public lands and waters. Twenty million RVers across the country depend on our iconic state and federal lands for recreation, conservation, enjoyment, and overnight camping. Enactment of this milestone legislation will mean increased recreation access for all no matter where they live, allowing more Americans to find fulfillment in living an active outdoor lifestyle.”
The bipartisan legislation, which had overwhelming support from the House and Senate RV Caucuses, will achieve the dual goals of protecting America’s special places and repairing deteriorating infrastructure. Funds provided in the GAOA will help improve outdoor recreation-related facilities that RVers rely on, like campgrounds, roads, bridges, parking lots, restrooms, visitor centers, trails, docks, and more –which have desperately needed updating or repairs for decades. It will help achieve this goal while preserving water quantity and quality, sustaining working landscapes and rural economies.
“On behalf of the RV Dealers Association, I want to thank all the members of Congress who voted in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act,” said RVDA President Phil Ingrassia. “This bipartisan, landmark legislation will provide funding for federal campgrounds and recreation areas, while preserving our public lands for future generations. The act will go a long way to reduce the maintenance backlog for our National Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I also want to thank all the RV dealers, RV manufacturers, campground representatives, and other industry stakeholders who reached out to their elected officials and helped get the Great American Outdoors Act approved by Congress.
Phil Ingrassia
Bob Martin
“RVers across the country depend on our incredible state and federal lands for recreation, conservation, enjoyment, and overnight camping. Thanks to the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act by the House of Representatives, we are one step closer to improving the experience of RVers by addressing deferred maintenance and campground modernization needs across federal lands and waters,” said Bob Martin, President and CEO of Thor Industries. “This legislation is critical not only to the RV industry and the significant number of new consumers looking to RVs as a way to travel this summer, but also to the wider outdoor recreation economy. We are grateful for the bipartisan support of this bill received in both the House and the Senate and look forward to the President signing the bill.”
The LWCF has, for 50 years, been our nation’s most successful conservation program. LWCF funds can be a lifeline for communities that rely on recreation access to local, state, and national parks, wildlife habitats, and working forests. LWCF funds have had a direct impact on growing the outdoor recreation economy by increasing recreational access to public lands in every state and county in America. Just recently the impact of LWCF has been seen on local campgrounds with the announcement of a $200,000 LWCF grant to upgrade electrical hookups, fire pits, and restrooms at an RV campground in Georgia. Passage of the GAOA will fund similar grants to modernize campgrounds across the country.
“The Great American Outdoors Act will ensure safe and enjoyable experiences for the millions of RVers across the country by increasing recreation access for all Americans no matter where they live, and addressing the deferred maintenance backlog on public lands and waters,” said Mike Happe, Winnebago Industries President and CEO. “This milestone legislation is important not only for the RV industry but also for the greater $778 billion outdoor recreation economy.”
Mike Happe
A study from the National Park Service (NPS) estimates that addressing the backlog in our national parks alone would create or support over 100,000 infrastructure-related jobs, most of these in struggling rural communities—the communities that have been hit particularly hard in the wake of the pandemic. Additionally, the study shows GAOA’s impact on NPS sites alone would support $6.5 billion in labor income, $17.5 billion in economic output, and contribute $9.6 billion to the US GDP. As visitors return to our parks and public lands, funding created by the GAOA will ensure that these special places are safe, accessible, and ready to help generate tourist dollars in local communities and tax revenues for local, state, and federal agencies.
Kevin McArt
“As more Americans look to RVs as a way to still get out and see our nation’s majestic public lands while also adhering to social distancing, it is more important than ever for Congress to address the mounting deferred maintenance on these lands through the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act,” said Kevin McArt, General Manager at Forest River Inc. “We applaud Congress for passing this historic legislation, which will create safe and enjoyable experiences for the 20 million RVers across the country.”
“The all-American RV industry has been solidly behind the Great American Outdoors Act from the start,” said RVIA Director of Government Affairs Chris Bornemann. “Thank you, Congress, and the RV Caucus, for providing the resources to reinvigorate our iconic lands and make them safe and modern for all outdoor recreation lovers. We look forward to the President signing the bill, something he has already promised to do.”
Chris Bornemann
Jessica Turner
“The outdoor recreation industry is ready to usher in the next golden age of the outdoor experiences after the House passed, in bipartisan fashion, the Great American Outdoors Act,” said Jessica Turner, executive director of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “GAOA is a major 21st century achievement and a reminder that when all sides work together, we can accomplish great things for the outdoors and the nation. We applaud House leaders— particularly Speaker Pelosi, Representatives Cunningham and Simpson, among many others — for helping to get this done. We urge President Trump to sign this bill into law as soon as possible so the outdoor recreation sector can help drive economic recovery in communities across the country and all Americans can connect with outdoor experiences that improve health and quality of life.”
“For literally millions of small businesses located in gateway communities near national parks and forests, including private RV parks and campgrounds, the passage of this historic legislation will increase opportunities for people to recreate outdoors and support all businesses that make up the outdoor recreation industry,” said Paul Bambei, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC). “The Great American Outdoors Act being considered in the House is historic legislation and ARVC would like to thank the House members who have shown support not only for our nation’s most beautiful outdoor spaces but the businesses that rely on those destinations for a large part of their success.”
Paul Bambei
Glenn Hughes
“Public lands are critical for providing recreational fishing opportunities throughout the nation,” said Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association. “The Great American Outdoors Act will provide long overdue funding to benefit current and future public lands at the local, state and federal levels. Enactment of this historic legislation will benefit recreational fishing, and outdoor recreation in general, for decades to come.”
“Our nation’s public lands have long been treasured sources of respite, enjoyment, and beauty available to every American, and they play a critical role in our economy,” U.S. Rep Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) said. “Hardworking Hoosiers know that better than anyone: manufacturers in northern Indiana build made-in-America outdoor recreation products, including 80 percent of the nation’s RVs. The Great American Outdoors Act will support RV and boat manufacturers and their workers, promote conservation, and revitalize our national parks so Americans can enjoy them for generations to come.”
https://woodallscm.com/house-passes-great-american-outdoors-act-trump-to-sign/