U.S. SENATE — The United States Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bill that allows federal, state and local policymakers to better understand the economic impact outdoor recreation has to the American economy.
This legislation would inform policymakers and business leaders on the jobs created, and the consumer spending driven by, the outdoor recreation economy.
“As a fifth-generation Montanan and avid outdoorsman, I know firsthand how treasured our outdoor heritage is,” Daines stated. “The outdoor industry is critically important to Montanans’ livelihoods, jobs and recreation.”
The legislation will now go to the Senate floor for consideration.
In April, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the Federal Recreation Council will work with the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis to assess the economic impact of the outdoor recreation industry. Before this announcement, the federal government had never measured outdoor recreation’s impact on the nation’s economy. This sector generates $5.8 billion in consumer spending each year and supports 64,000 jobs in Montana every year.
Daines’ legislation will ensure this assessment is codified. The Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act is supported by over 60 organizations and businesses, including the Outdoor Industry Association and the U.S. Travel Association.
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