Outdoor Recreation Act Reintroduced in Congress

America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA) was reintroduced  in the 118th Congress with strong bipartisan support, and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and its members across the $862 billion outdoor recreation economy urge swift approval of this bill so that many more Americans can enjoy outdoor spaces and their associated benefits to health and wellness. This groundbreaking legislation not only boosts local and national economies, but it also gives more Americans — especially those in underserved areas — greater access to green spaces and public lands and waters while not costing taxpayers a dime to implement. 

Outdoor recreation is an $862 billion industry, providing 4.5 million American jobs and boosting economies in communities large and small. And studies have shown that enjoying time outside helps benefit a person’s mental and physical health. 

America’s Outdoor Recreation Act would: 

• enable permit streamlining to ease burdens on outfitters and guides and improve access to outdoor experiences; 
• improve access to recreation on public lands and waters; 
• ensure access to green spaces in underserved communities; 
• update outdoor recreation infrastructure; 

• develop, improve, and complete long range trails; and 
• invest in rural economic development. 

“America’s Outdoor Recreation Act will bolster outdoor recreation access and opportunities for the millions of Americans who continue to discover the benefits of the great outdoors and time spent on our nation’s lands and waters,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). “We thank Senators Manchin and Barrasso for their bipartisan leadership in re-introducing this critical bill and are encouraged by the work underway in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a meaningful recreation package early in the new Congress. The recreational boating and fishing industry urges Congress to swiftly pass this bill in the weeks to come.”