[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 162 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H6126-H6127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
OUTDOOR RECREATION JOBS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT ACT OF 2016
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4665) to require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an
assessment and analysis of the outdoor recreation economy of the United
States, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4665
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 ``Outdoor Recreation Jobs and
Economic Impact Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY
OF THE UNITED STATES.
(a) Assessment and Analysis.--The Secretary of Commerce
shall enter into a joint memorandum with the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct,
acting through the Director of the Bureau of Economic
Analysis, an assessment and analysis of the outdoor
recreation economy of the United States and the effects
attributable to such economy on the overall economy of the
United States.
(b) Considerations.--In conducting the assessment required
by subsection (a), the Secretary of Commerce may consider
employment, sales, and contributions to travel and tourism,
and such other contributing components of the outdoor
recreation economy of the United States as the Secretary
considers appropriate.
(c) Consultation.--In carrying out the assessment required
by subsection (a), the Secretary of Commerce shall consult
with--
(1) the heads of such agencies and offices of the Federal
Government as the Secretary considers appropriate, including
the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior,
the Federal Recreation Council, the Director of the Bureau of
the Census, and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics; and
(2) representatives of businesses, including small business
concerns, that engage in commerce in the outdoor recreation
economy of the United States.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on
the findings of the Secretary with respect to the assessment
conducted under subsection (a).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the
Senate;
(C) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate;
(D) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of
the Senate;
(E) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives.
(e) Small Business Concern Defined.--In this section, the
term ``small business concern'' has the meaning given such
term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
632).
(f) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds
are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act.
Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts
otherwise authorized.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Burgess) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include any extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4665, the Outdoor
Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016. The outdoor recreation
industry encompasses activities and sports such as bicycling, camping,
hunting, fishing, off-roading, and wildlife viewing, and is enjoyed by
consumers of all ages, all ethnicities, all income levels.
This industry has become a significant engine for economic growth and
job creation in the United States. Despite the growing contributions
made by the outdoor recreation industry to the United States economy,
the industry's full economic impact has not been measured and not
accounted for like other economic sectors.
[[Page H6127]]
H.R. 4665 would ensure that the outdoor recreation economy is
measured and is accounted for by the Federal Government as part of the
country's gross domestic product, as it has done for many other
economic sectors.
The work that is directed to be done by the Department of Commerce,
in consultation with other Federal agencies, would not require new
employees and would use existing funds within that agency.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4665.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 4665, the Outdoor REC Act, recognizes the important
contributions of outdoor recreation to our economy. Outdoor recreation
provides an estimated 6 million direct jobs, including an estimated
200,000 jobs in my home State of Illinois. It promotes travel and
tourism. Ultimately, getting Americans outside to enjoy our Nation's
natural wonders promotes an appreciation for our environment.
This bill would build on efforts at the Department of Commerce to
understand the economic impact of outdoor recreation by directing a
report to Congress, helping inform policy and industry.
I want to thank Representatives Beyer, Reichert, Welch, and McMorris
Rodgers for their work to advance this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Carter).
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
4665, the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016.
The REC Act would allow for the first ever economic analysis of the
outdoor recreation industry. Over 140 million Americans participate in
outdoor activities each year, such as biking, hiking, hunting, fishing,
and boating, to name just a few.
Studies have shown that outdoor recreation is a driving force in our
economy and that the industry is continuing to grow. I have seen this
firsthand in my district, which is home to 100 miles of coastline and
beaches, a large tourism sector, and endless opportunities to go
outside and enjoy our beautiful landscape.
Yet, despite the estimated billions in annual consumer spending on
outdoor recreation and millions of jobs created, there is a lack of
data on the full economic impact of the industry. For instance, there
is a large manufacturing component that goes hand in hand with the
outdoor recreation industry. Much of the gear and apparel used in
outdoor activities is made and sold right here in the United States to
the tune of millions of dollars.
The REC Act would ensure that this data and the entire outdoor
recreation industry is fully studied so that we can make informed
policy and business decisions.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4665.
{time} 1515
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4665 is indeed a bipartisan bill, which
my colleagues Congressman Dave Reichert, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris
Rodgers, Congressman Peter Welch, and I introduced.
The bill would direct the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic
Analysis to measure, analyze, and report on the full economic impact
attributable to the outdoor recreation economy. In the United States,
this economy is a major driver of job creation and growth. Hiking,
biking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, climbing, BASE jumping, you name
the outdoor sport, it is generating revenue for our country.
In northern Virginia, we are blessed with great outdoor opportunities
like the W&OD Trail and the Mount Vernon Trail, and we are very excited
by the recent development of the Capital Trails Coalition, which is
looking at how to foster increased interconnectedness of all the trails
in the national capital region.
Mr. Speaker, as an avid hiker, this is very personal to me. I am now
at 1,435 miles out of the 2,189 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and
over those 1,435 miles, I often experience the outdoor economy
firsthand with the number of backpacks, sleeping bags, stoves, water
filters, diners, small motels, the many, many ways we find to spend
money while on the trail.
Beyond the recharge of just being outside, I love getting to know the
small towns and the forest communities along my hikes from Georgia to
Maine. I know that my time spent there puts a lot more tax dollars back
into these communities and into the local businesses, boosting the
economy.
According to an estimate by the Outdoor Industry Association, the
outdoor recreation economy generates more than $646 billion in consumer
spending and, we have already heard, more than 6 million jobs. Unlike
other major sections of the U.S. economy, however, the Federal
Government, until this year, did not track the contributions of the
outdoor recreation sector to economic growth, and that left
policymakers and business leaders in the dark. This data is going to
help quantify the economic importance of outdoor recreation and help
inform the decisions that affect the businesses and the 142 million
Americans who play and work outside each year.
We deeply believe that no child should be left inside, and H.R. 4665
will ensure that our policymakers, our decisionmakers have the data to
understand how we can best make this part of our economy flourish. I
encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Beyer) for his over 1,000 miles traveled on the
trail, so he is clearly an expert on this topic.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote on the legislation,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 4665, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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