Press Releases

Today, Congressman French Hill (AR-02) submitted the following statement to the Congressional Record after the House passed H.R. 4665, the Outdoor Recreation’s Economic Contributions Act:

“As the Natural State, Arkansas’s outdoor recreation and natural beauty draws millions of visitors each year, contributing to our state’s economy and supporting thousands of jobs.

“Yesterday, the House passed the Outdoor Recreation’s Economic Contributions Act, which would result in our Nation measuring the economic impact of our outdoor recreation industry, providing Americans with important information on this vital part of the U.S. economy.

“This bill would give our federal, state, and local governments the ability to more fully analyze the benefits that outdoor recreation provides so that we may better support our parks and outdoor areas for the enjoyment of all Americans.

“In Arkansas, the Department of Parks and Tourism also provides important funding to improve the management and quality of our state’s outdoor recreation areas through the Outdoor Recreation Grants Program.

“Through important policies and programs at our federal, state, and local levels, we can continue to support the great outdoors and encourage more Americans to visit and access our country’s vast network of parks, forests, and trails.”