Government Spending Package Boosts Outdoor Recreation

The 2020 U.S. government spending package delivers a funding boost for a host of outdoor recreation, access and conservation priorities. It directs new studies that will help the industry measure its contributions to recreation infrastructure as well as the federal government’s investments.

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s (ORR) elevation of the recreation economy, and its members’ continued engagement with lawmakers has resulted in some big wins in the budget, including the highest funding levels for the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 15 years. This will increase the number of recreation projects possible across the country.

Funding has also been provided to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for fisheries management, weather forecasting and ocean monitoring. The National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service also got a capital boost to address outstanding needs.

Outdoor recreation champions Senators Shaheen (D-NH) and Gardner (R-CO) secured $1.5 million for the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, directing the Bureau of Economic Analysis to measure the impact of the outdoor recreation economy, and deliver state-level data, on an annual basis.

Congress approved a study by the Government Accountability Office on government funding for outdoor recreation. The study will evaluate programs carried out by federal agencies that directly impact the outdoor recreation sector. Further, Congress directed the department to continue its engagement with the outdoor recreation industry, non-profit organizations and recreation groups to further refine national and state data collection methods.