Wyden, Bishop Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Rob Bishop, R-Utah, today introduced legislation in the Senate and House to remove barriers to outdoor recreation and boost rural economies across the country.

Their bipartisan Recreation Not Red-Tape (RNR) Act, S. 1633, would promote access to outdoor recreation opportunities and allow more visitors to get outdoors. The RNR Act would streamline the permitting process for guides and recreation enthusiasts, hold federal agencies accountable for making outdoor recreation a priority for the first time and increase volunteerism to address the maintenance backlog on America's public lands.

"The RNR Act puts the engine for Oregon's recreation economy into top gear, creating rural jobs and helping outdoor businesses thrive," Wyden said. "Our bipartisan bill will break down barriers to the great outdoors, allowing more visitors to take advantage of the endless recreation experiences our public lands have to offer."

"Cumbersome permitting processes and other bureaucratic roadblocks have significantly undermined access to recreational opportunities for lands that should be available for all Americans to enjoy," Bishop said. "This bipartisan bill cuts through that red-tape and ensures federal land managers are focused on their role in providing the public with high-quality outdoor experiences."

Wyden introduced a previous version of the RNR Act last year after gathering input from outdoor enthusiasts in Oregon and across the country about how to improve overly complicated and outdated agency processes that make it more difficult for local recreation businesses to thrive.

Several pieces of the 2016 legislation have since become law, including a piece of the bill that called for a study to discover the real-world economic impacts of outdoor recreation, including the jobs and business opportunities it generates.

The RNR Act of 2017 is supported by a range of recreation and conservation groups, including The Wilderness Society, Outdoor Industry Association, Outdoor Alliance, Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the YMCA, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Travel Oregon.

"As evidenced by the $887 billion in consumer spending and the 7.6 million jobs supported by the outdoor industry, recreation on public lands is as popular in the 21st century as any other time in our nation's history, and it's one of our biggest economic drivers," said Amy Roberts, Outdoor Industry Association's executive director. "Unfortunately, many of the regulations and agency policies that govern our public lands' use are outdated. We support the bipartisan effort of Senator Wyden and Chairman Bishop to update antiquated processes and reduce barriers to recreation for today's outdoor users. We believe the pragmatic approach of the Recreation Not Red-Tape bill will lead to healthier communities and healthier economies across the country."

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