Bill will increase and improve outdoor recreation opportunities
Alexandria, VA – Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Outdoor Recreation Act, a package of 14 provisions aimed at improving and increasing outdoor recreation opportunities, including recreational fishing, on federal lands.
Building on recently enacted legislation such as the Great American Outdoors Act and America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, the Outdoor Recreation Act demonstrates a continued commitment from Congressional leaders to ensure federal policies are accommodating Americans’ growing interest in outdoor recreation.
“Recreational fishing participation has grown significantly over the past year and half, benefiting the economy and Americans’ overall wellbeing,” said Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). “Federal lands play a pivotal role in providing recreational fishing opportunities. The sportfishing industry is grateful to Sens. Manchin and Barrasso for compiling this comprehensive legislative package that will modernize and enhance management of, and access to, our nation’s public lands.”
The following provisions are of specific importance to the sportfishing industry:
In addition to these provisions, the bill addresses a wide range of outdoor recreation priorities from modernizing campgrounds through public-private partnership to identifying long-distance bike trails on federal lands.
“This landmark legislative package addresses numerous issues related to federal land management that will help keep up with the growing demand from anglers and other outdoor recreationists,” said Mike Leonard, ASA’s vice president of Government Affairs. “We are eager to continue working with Congress to advance this important bill.”
Share on Social Media
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry's trade association committed to representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries as well as the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry and anglers a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America's 55 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation's waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national angler advocacy campaign. America's anglers generate more than $50 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation's economy creating employment for 825,000 people.
CONTACT: Mary Jane Williamson, Communications Director 703-519-9691, x227
American Sportfishing Association