[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2074-S2075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SENATE RESOLUTION 248--DESIGNATING JUNE 2023 AS ``GREAT 
                            OUTDOORS MONTH''

  Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. King, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
Marshall, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Booker, Mr. 
Tester, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 248

       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 November 2022 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the 
     Department of Commerce, shows that outdoor recreation 
     generated more than

[[Page S2075]]

     $862,000,000,000 in economic output in 2021, comprising 
     approximately 2 percent of the current-dollar gross domestic 
     product;
       Whereas the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account shows 
     that, in 2021, the outdoor recreation sector grew 3 times 
     faster than the overall economy of the United States, while 
     also providing 4,500,000 jobs across the United States;
       Whereas the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116-
     152; 134 Stat. 682) provides billions of dollars to help 
     eliminate the maintenance backlog on public lands and waters 
     and fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund;
       Whereas regular outdoor recreation is associated with 
     economic growth, positive health outcomes, and better quality 
     of life;
       Whereas outdoor recreation activities at the Federal, 
     State, and local levels have seen a recent surge in 
     participation;
       Whereas many outdoor recreation businesses are small 
     businesses that are cornerstones of rural communities, and 
     outdoor recreation is part of the national heritage of the 
     United States;
       Whereas it is imperative that the United States ensure that 
     access to outdoor recreation is available to all its people 
     for generations to come; and
       Whereas June 2023 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 2023 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 2023 and year-round.

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