BoatUS Leaders See Major Benefits In Outdoor REC Bill

Passed in the Senate on Nov. 28 the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act of 2016 (Outdoor REC Act, H.R. 4665) instructs the Department of Commerce and federal land management agencies to provide statistics on the boating industry’s impact at their agencies. The leadership of BoatUS, the nation’s largest organization of recreational boat owners, is hoping “for the President’s signature before the end of the year, according to a recent BoatUS press release, as the information gathered will be used to “help used to tabulate U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) data.”

And that will lead to a number of benefits for boat owners, as well as the entire boating industry, according to the release.

If signed by the President, the Outdoor REC bill could provide important information on recreational boating’s economic impact. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“If recreational boating, as part of the outdoor industry, has its economic impact measured and highlighted, it could help support funding for improvements in recreational boating,” said David Kennedy, the Government Affairs manager for BoatUS, in the release. “The passage of the Act will also help policymakers at all levels of government understand the importance of the recreational boating and sport fishing industries”

According to the American Recreation Coalition, which also supports the bill, outdoor recreation represents over six million jobs and $646 billion in economic activity annually.

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