III
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 654
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 26, 2022
Mr. Daines (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. King, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Booker, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Designating June 2022 as Great Outdoors Month
.
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 2021 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, shows that outdoor recreation generated more than $374,300,000,000 in economic output in 2020, comprising approximately 1.8 percent of the current-dollar gross domestic product;
Whereas the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account shows that, in 2020, the outdoor recreation sector provided 4,300,000 jobs across the United States;
Whereas the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116–152; 134 Stat. 682) provides approximately $2,000,000,000 per year 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 were heavily impacted by the COVID–19 pandemic;
Whereas outdoor recreation businesses 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 inclusive, equitable, and available to all its people for generations to come; and
Whereas June 2022 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
That the Senate—
designates June 2022 as Great Outdoors Month
; and
encourages all individuals in the United States to responsibly participate in recreation activities in the great outdoors during June 2022 and year-round.