October 29, 2015

Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act (S. 2219) on October 29. The bipartisan legislation requires the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, to conduct an assessment and analysis of the outdoor recreation economy of the U.S.

If enacted, the assessment would cover recreational economic information including the creation of jobs, consumer spending, and contributions to travel and tourism among other topics. Throughout the data collection process, the Secretary of Commerce would be required to consult with the heads of other federal agencies such as the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior and the Director of the Bureau of the Census as well as businesses that engage in recreational commerce that benefits the U.S. economy. The Bureau of Economic Analysis would then make the conclusive economic data available to the public.

Sources: congress.gov, Senator Cory Gardner’s Website