[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 113 (Thursday, June 18, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3106-S3107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 629--DESIGNATING JUNE 2020 AS ``GREAT OUTDOORS 
                                MONTH''

  Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. King, Mr. 
Cramer, Ms. McSally, Mr. Gardner, and Ms. Hirono) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 629

       Whereas hundreds of millions of individuals in the United 
     States participate in outdoor recreation annually;
       Whereas Congress enacted the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and 
     Economic Impact Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-249; 130 Stat. 
     999) to assess and analyze the outdoor recreation economy of 
     the United States and the effects attributable to the outdoor 
     recreation economy on the overall economy of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account updated in 
     September 2019 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the 
     Department of Commerce shows that outdoor recreation 
     contributed more than $427,000,000,000 of current-dollar 
     gross domestic product to the economy of the United States in 
     2017, comprising approximately 2.2 percent of the current-
     dollar gross domestic product;
       Whereas the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account shows 
     that, in 2017, the outdoor recreation sector experienced 
     faster growth in real gross output, compensation, and 
     employment than the overall economy of the United States, 
     while also providing 5,200,000 jobs across the United States;
       Whereas the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public 
     Law 116-6; 133 Stat. 13) encouraged the Department of 
     Commerce to continue its work with the Outdoor Recreation 
     Satellite Account;

[[Page S3107]]

       Whereas regular outdoor recreation is associated with 
     economic growth, positive health outcomes, and better quality 
     of life;
       Whereas many outdoor recreation businesses are small 
     businesses, which have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 
     pandemic;
       Whereas, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many outdoor 
     recreation businesses have experienced decreases in sales and 
     have furloughed or laid off employees;
       Whereas outdoor recreation businesses are cornerstones of 
     rural communities and outdoor recreation is part of the 
     national heritage of the United States; and
       Whereas June 2020 is an appropriate month to designate as 
     ``Great Outdoors Month'' to provide an opportunity to 
     celebrate the importance of the great outdoors: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 2020 as ``Great Outdoors Month''; and
       (2) encourages all individuals in the United States to 
     responsibly participate in recreation activities in the great 
     outdoors during June 2020 and year-round.

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