By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
More than 125 outdoor recreation-related companies, including many SEMA members, sent a letter calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to swiftly pass the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan legislation on June 17 by a vote of 73-25.
The GAOA would direct that $9.5 billion be spent over the next five years to address a recreation maintenance backlog on federal lands. Deteriorating infrastructure to be improved includes roads, trails, docks, campgrounds and more. The bill would also appropriate $900 million annually to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which allocates funding to protect natural areas, water resources, cultural heritage sites and to provide recreation opportunities.
According to the most recent study, the outdoor recreation industry contributed $778 billion in annual economic output, accounted for 2.2% of U.S. gross domestic product and supported 5.2 million jobs. The legislation is vital in providing creating jobs and providing more outdoor access to Americans.
Enactment of the GAOA into law would benefit many SEMA members in the off-road market (four-wheel, ATVs and UTVs), in addition to companies producing and selling wheels/tires, suspension, power and other equipment to help tow RVs and boats to the nation’s parks and recreation areas. SEMA and 30 other national associations that comprise the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) have called on the U.S. Congress to pass the GAOA.
For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.