[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1834 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1834

  To establish a bipartisan 21st Century Great Outdoors Commission to 
    assess the use, value, job creation, and economic opportunities 
  associated with the outdoor resources of the public lands and other 
   land and water areas of the United States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2013

 Mr. Grijalva introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a bipartisan 21st Century Great Outdoors Commission to 
    assess the use, value, job creation, and economic opportunities 
  associated with the outdoor resources of the public lands and other 
   land and water areas of the United States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Great Outdoors 
Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is established in the legislative branch a bipartisan 21st 
Century Great Outdoors Commission to assess the use, value, job 
creation, and economic opportunities associated with the outdoor 
resources of the public lands and other land and water areas of the 
United States, and for other purposes. The outdoor resources of the 
public lands and other land and water areas of the United States confer 
enormous benefits on the people of the United States including 
providing clean water as well as economic benefits.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Current research indicates that changing demographics, 
        impacts of climate change, lack of public access, and funding 
        shortfalls create challenges for land and recreation managers. 
        The research also affirms that outdoor resources present 
        opportunities for job creation and economic development.
            (2) Outdoor recreation is responsible for more than 
        $646,000,000,000 in direct consumer spending, generates more 
        than $80,000,000,000 in Federal, State, and local taxes and 
        supports more than 6,100,000 American jobs.
            (3) Outdoor recreation opportunities are critical to the 
        Nation's 46,800,000 hunters and anglers who generate at least 
        33,700,000,000 in economic activity nationwide.
            (4) Outdoor recreation promotes better mental and physical 
        health for children. Research shows that spending time outside 
        enhances fitness and improves academic achievement.
            (5) Therapeutic and adaptive recreation programs provide 
        invaluable benefits to disabled and injured veterans. These 
        programs not only aid in physical recovery but also help to 
        address mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress 
        disorder, and other afflictions suffered by wounded warriors.
            (6) It has been increasingly clear that land and water 
        available for outdoor recreation also has other benefits to 
        society including the protection of water resources, the 
        conservation of fish and wildlife habitat, protection of 
        communities from natural hazards such as flooding and storms, 
        reduction in air pollution and sustaining rural land uses such 
        ranching, farming, and forest management.
            (7) The 2010 Census reports that four out of five Americans 
        now live in urban or metropolitan areas, making the need for 
        safe and accessible ``close-to-home'' outdoor recreation 
        opportunities more important than ever.
            (8) The American people have benefitted from two federally 
        initiated national reviews of outdoor recreation resources in 
        the latter half of the twentieth century. The Outdoor 
        Recreation Resources Review Commission, established by 
        legislation and signed by President Eisenhower in 1958, issued 
        its report in 1962, which led to the passage of several 
        landmark conservation and outdoor recreation laws. The 
        President's Commission on Outdoor Recreation, established by 
        Executive order by President Reagan and Chaired by then 
        Governor Lamar Alexander, issued its report in 1987, the 
        findings of which solidified the importance of our Nation's 
        outdoor recreation laws and further recognized the value of 
        partnerships and cooperation in ensuring outdoor recreation 
        opportunities for all Americans. The 21st Century Great 
        Outdoors Commission established in this Act will build upon 
        this foundation of existing conservation and recreation 
        programs that were created from the previous commissions and 
        will address recreation and conservation needs in 21st century 
        America. Further, it will help guide policies to help meet the 
        demands for outdoor recreation and conservation throughout the 
        Nation.
            (9) The bipartisan Outdoor Resources Review Group, through 
        Resources for the Future, reported on the State of the Great 
        Outdoors in 2009 identifying issues with the supply and 
        financing of outdoor recreation opportunities.
            (10) The Obama Administration launched the America's Great 
        Outdoors Initiative to develop a 21st century conservation and 
        recreation agenda. The America's Great Outdoors Initiative led 
        to the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation, which 
        strives to support and enhance outdoor recreation access and 
        opportunities on Federal public lands, waters, and shores.
            (11) The bipartisan Western Governors' Association released 
        a report in 2012 identifying challenges and recommending 
        strategies for providing outdoor recreation experiences in the 
        Western United States.
            (12) It has been over 25 years since the last 
        presidentially directed review of America's conservation and 
        outdoor recreation needs. The people of the United States would 
        benefit from a new federally initiated bipartisan review of 
        American outdoor resources and from policy recommendations 
        including how to maximize the economic opportunities associated 
        with changing use patterns, how differing regions can access 
        American outdoor resources, and how Federal, State, local, and 
        private interests can address existing challenges.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the 21st 
        Century Great Outdoors Commission.
            (2) Outdoor resources.--The term ``outdoor resources'' 
        means the land and water areas and associated resources of such 
        areas in the United States and its territories and possessions, 
        which provide or may in the future provide opportunities for 
        outdoor recreation and enjoyment.
            (3) Outdoor recreation.--The term ``outdoor recreation'' 
        means use of outdoor resources, both developed and undeveloped, 
        in urban, suburban, and rural areas, including backcountry and 
        dispersed recreation on public lands.

SEC. 5. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 11 
        members, appointed not later than 60 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, as follows:
                    (A) Two members who shall be appointed by the 
                Speaker of the House of Representatives.
                    (B) One member who shall be appointed by the 
                minority leader of the House of Representatives.
                    (C) Two members who shall be appointed by the 
                majority leader of the Senate.
                    (D) One member who shall be appointed by the 
                minority leader of the Senate.
                    (E) Five members who shall be appointed by the 
                President from among persons who are broadly 
                representative of the people of the United States, only 
                two of which shall be from the President's political 
                party.
            (2) Term.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of 
        the Commission.
            (3) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect 
        its powers and shall be filled in the manner in which the 
        original appointment was made.
    (b) Compensation.--
            (1) Per diem.--Each member of the Commission may be 
        compensated at an amount not to exceed the daily equivalent of 
        the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level 
        IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 
        United States Code, for each day during which that member is 
        engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Expenses.--While away from their homes or regular 
        places of business in the performance of services for the 
        Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
        same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
        Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) 
        of title 5, United States Code.
    (c) Meetings; Quorum; Rules of Procedure.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall hold its first meeting. At the first meeting, 
        the Commission shall designate a chair.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--Subsequent meetings shall be held 
        at the call of the Chair.
            (3) Quorum.--Five members of the Commission shall 
        constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
            (4) Rules.--The Commission may establish rules of procedure 
        for the conduct of the Commission's business, if such rules are 
        not inconsistent with this Act or other applicable law.
    (d) Advisory Council.--The Commission shall establish an advisory 
council to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties. The 
Advisory Council shall consist of the liaison officers involved with 
the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation, together with 20 
additional members appointed by the Commission. The Commission shall 
consider broad-based geographical and interest representation, 
including citizens involved with local parks and recreation centers, 
outdoor recreation at the local, State, and Federal levels, public 
health, local recreation businesses, hunting and fishing activities, 
other wildlife interests, land conservation, historic, and cultural 
preservation, and other natural resource-based activities.

SEC. 6. DUTIES.

    (a) In General.--The Commission, in its inquiries, findings, and 
recommendations, shall recognize that--
            (1) present and future solutions to problems of outdoor 
        resources and opportunities are responsibilities at all levels 
        of government, from local to Federal, and of individuals and 
        private organizations;
            (2) lands, waters, forest, rangelands, wetlands, wildlife, 
        and such other natural resources serve multiple purposes; and
            (3) sound planning of resource use for the full future 
        welfare of the Nation must include coordination and integration 
        of multiple uses such as economic development, energy 
        development, recreation, historic preservation, and 
        conservation.
    (b) Specific Duties.--The duties of the Commission are as follows:
            (1) Review and augment existing contemporary research on 
        outdoor resources, including numerous economic studies, and 
        identify areas that have not been thoroughly researched.
            (2) Use existing research to better determine use patterns, 
        expectations, and resource needs.
            (3) Conduct detailed case studies of use, challenges, and 
        successes associated with outdoor resources in every region of 
        the United States to better understand regional opportunities 
        and challenges in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The 
        Commission, working with the Advisory Council, shall determine 
        regional boundaries and case study locations.
            (4) Evaluate existing Federal funding programs to determine 
        how well they can work better to accomplish more conservation 
        and recreation objectives.
            (5) Evaluate the role that the Federal Government plays in 
        preserving and enhancing recreational opportunities and 
        associated regional economies vis-a-vis States, localities, and 
        the private sector.
            (6) Evaluate and identify opportunities, practices, and 
        investment strategies where the conservation of land for 
        outdoor recreation can also serve other needs such as--
                    (A) the responsible and effective reuse of 
                relinquished military property for public benefit;
                    (B) protection of water resources;
                    (C) the conservation of fish and wildlife habitat;
                    (D) providing buffers from natural hazards such as 
                storms and floods; and
                    (E) sustaining traditional uses of rural land such 
                farming, ranching, and forest management.
            (7) Provide policy recommendations, including 
        recommendations on how to--
                    (A) address key challenges such as climate change;
                    (B) use outdoor resources to improve health;
                    (C) account for the effects of increasing 
                urbanization on outdoor resources and recreation;
                    (D) maximize access to recreation for underserved 
                communities, including outdoor programs for youth;
                    (E) maximize access to adaptive and therapeutic 
                recreation programs for disabled and injured veterans;
                    (F) use recreation to strengthen regional 
                economies;
                    (G) preserve regional recreation economies; and
                    (H) improve the use of existing funding and 
                programs for conservation and recreation.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Interim and progress reports.--The Commission, on its 
        own initiative or on request of the President or the Congress, 
        shall prepare interim or progress reports on particular phases 
        of its review.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall present a report of its review and its 
        recommendations to the President, Congress, and State 
        Governors. The report and recommendations shall--
                    (A) be presented in such form as to make them of 
                maximum value to State, local, and regional entities;
                    (B) include recommendations as to means whereby the 
                review may effectively be kept current in the future; 
                and
                    (C) include recommendations for the near future and 
                for further action in 2020 and 2040.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Contracting.--The Commission may, to such extent and in such 
amounts as are provided in advance in Acts of appropriation, enter into 
contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this 
Act.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission is authorized to secure 
        directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, 
        commission, office, independent establishment, or 
        instrumentality of the Federal Government, information, 
        suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this 
        Act. Each department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
        office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to 
        the extent authorized by law, furnish such information, 
        suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the 
        Commission, upon request made by the chairman, the chairman of 
        any subcommittee created by a majority of the Commission, or 
        any member designated by a majority of the Commission.
            (2) Receipt, handling, storage, and dissemination.--
        Information shall only be received, handled, stored, and 
        disseminated by members of the Commission and its staff 
        consistent with all applicable statutes, regulations, and 
        Executive orders.
    (c) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) General services administration.--The Administrator of 
        General Services shall provide to the Commission, on a 
        reimbursable basis, administrative support and other services 
        for the performance of the Commission's functions.
            (2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to 
        assistance under paragraph (1), departments and agencies of the 
        United States may provide to the Commission such services, 
        funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as they 
        determine advisable and as may be authorized by law.
    (d) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property.
    (e) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments 
and agencies of the United States.

SEC. 8. STAFF.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Compensation.--The chairman, in accordance with rules 
        agreed upon by the Commission, may appoint and fix the 
        compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as 
        may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its 
        functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
        States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
        and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
        subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
        classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no 
        rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the 
        equivalent of that payable for a position at level V of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States 
        Code.
            (2) Personnel as federal employees.--
                    (A) In general.--The executive director and any 
                personnel of the Commission who are employees shall be 
                employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States 
                Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 
                89, and 90 of that title.
                    (B) Members of commission.--Subparagraph (A) shall 
                not be construed to apply to members of the Commission.
    (b) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to 
the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and such 
detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her 
regular employment without interruption.
    (c) Expert and Consultant Services.--The Commission is authorized 
to procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with 
section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed 
the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Volunteer Services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 
United States Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and 
uncompensated services as the Commission determines necessary.

SEC. 9. NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.

    (a) In General.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 
shall not apply to the Commission.
    (b) Public Meetings and Release of Public Versions of Reports.--The 
Commission shall--
            (1) hold public hearings and meetings to the extent 
        appropriate; and
            (2) release public versions of the reports required under 
        section 6(c).
    (c) Public Hearings.--Any public hearings of the Commission shall 
be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information 
provided to or developed for or by the Commission as required by any 
applicable statute, regulation, or Executive order.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission, and all the authorities of this 
Act, shall terminate 60 days after the date on which the final report 
is submitted under section 6(c).
    (b) Administrative Activities Before Termination.--The Commission 
may use the 60-day period referred to in subsection (a) for the purpose 
of concluding its activities, including providing testimony to 
committees of Congress concerning its reports and disseminating the 
final report.
                                 <all>