Outdoor Recreation Roundtable

SEMA has joined forces with the "Outdoor Recreation Roundtable" (ORR) to showcase outdoor recreation as an important economic contributor. ORR works to promote federal policy and legislative reforms needed to grow the outdoor recreation economy --estimated to be $887 billion annually and supporting an estimated 7.6 million jobs. 

ORR organizations represent thousands of U.S. businesses that produce vehicles, equipment, gear, apparel and services enjoyed in our nation's parks, waterways, byways, trails and outdoor spaces. SEMA's focus is on motorized recreation (4-wheel, ATVs, UTVs, etc.) along with all the equipment that makes it possible to tow RVs, trailers, boats and off-road vehicles (suspension, wheels, tires, increased horsepower, etc.).

Members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) met with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to discuss expanding public-private partnerships.

SEMA and other ORR members work with lawmakers in Congress and federal agency officials to identify ways to improve visitor experiences on the nation's public lands and waters. Examples include public-private partnerships to reduce a multi-billion-dollar maintenance backlog, modernize campsites, extend service hours and seasons, and implement electronic fee collection.  ORR strives to achieve the following:

1. Foster collaboration with the Federal government to enable the outdoor recreation economy to reach its full potential;
2. Remove barriers that prevent private investment from being made on public lands and waters; and
3. Change the mindset of federal agencies so recreational access and high-quality visitor experiences are prioritized.

Recent SEMA/ORR Highlights

• SEMA Praises Establishment of Dept. of Interior "Recreation Advisory Committee":  Formation of the Committee was announced on Nov. 7, 2017.  It will pursue public-private partnerships when possible to improve infrastructure and access to public lands.  
• ORR-Sponsored "Recreation Not Red-Tape" Legislation Introduced in Congress:  The legislation identifies actions the federal government can take to expand public-private collaborations.  This includes modernizing the way special recreation permits are issued, making it easier to extend service hours and seasons, promoting private-sector volunteer programs, having government agencies coordinate cross-jurisdictional trail management plans, and establishing metrics for measuring the user-experience when visiting federal lands.
• SEMA Members Tom & T.C. Brooks Display Aftermarket-Modified Jeep Wrangler at Dep. of Interior Headquarters while DOI Secretary Ryan Zinke Announces Proposal to Create "Recreation Advisory Committee: On July 18, 2017 more than 25 ORR representatives met with U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and other officials to discuss 30 examples of potential infrastructure improvements.  The meeting included an outdoor "Made in America" media event displaying recreation equipment. 
• ORR and Trump Administration Leaders Meet at Shenandoah National Park to Discuss-Expanding Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation:  SEMA staff and Tom Brooks (Truckin Thunder) participate in the April 4, 2017 meeting with senior officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Forest Service.
• SEMA Joins ORR Coalition Effort to Expand the Outdoor Recreation Economy

Click Here for 4-Page Quick Reference Guide to the ORR & Economic Data

SEMA members Tom Brooks with his son T.C. Brooks (Truckin Thunder) with their '16 Jeep Wrangler in front of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

For additional information about ORR, please contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org or (202) 792-7793.