The Government Affairs team of the RV Industry Association and its partners in the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable have been working with legislators for years on issues related to increased access to outdoor recreation.
The Government Affairs staff and members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable participated in a series of virtual meetings last week with key outdoor recreation policymakers, RVIA announced.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson was the first to meet with them. He recently offered to finance and appoint an Outdoor Recreation Director, which is a position that the RV Industry Association has been pushing for. Governor Hutchinson also serves as the incoming Chairman of the National Governors Association (NGA), giving him considerable influence over the agenda and staff of the NGA. Governor Hutchinson, in his capacity as Chairman, discussed with the Government Affairs team how important it is to invest in outdoor recreation across the United States. He expressed interest in promoting outdoor recreation and welcomes any opportunity to invest in Arkansan campgrounds.
Another meeting was with Randy Moore, the new Chief of US Forest Service. He expressed his gratitude to Outdoor Recreation Roundtable members for insisting on US Forest Service receiving dedicated funding under the Great American Outdoors Act. Chief Moore spoke about the thousands upon thousands of Forest Service lands, including their bridges, dams, and reservoirs. He hopes that GAOA funds will help to address these issues. Chief Moore’s Government Affairs team will work closely with him and his team to provide further guidance about where some of the GAOA funding should be directed.
The Government Affairs team also met with Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, who oversees the US Forest Service. Like Mr. Moore, Secretary Vilsack thanked the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable for their work in funding the US Forest Service through GAOA funding. Secretary Vilsack also recognized the crucial role that outdoor recreation would play for the country. Vilsack also stressed to the Government Affairs team the importance of firefighting, forest resiliency, and reforestation.
“These top policymakers are highlighting the importance of modernized campgrounds and outdoor recreation. This is evidence that our message is resonating with them,” the association stated in a recent News & Insights article.
As outdoor recreation continues to grow, the Government Affairs team plans to keep in touch with legislators and other Administration officials.
I’m getting worried about the state of outdoor recreational areas. It’s crucial to maintain and improve them for all of us who love the outdoors. Let’s make sure these spaces stay beautiful and accessible for future generations to enjoy!