Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced H.R. 3400, the “Recreation Not Red-Tape Act” or “RNR Act.” H.R. 3400 promotes increased access to outdoor recreation opportunities on federal lands and boost rural economies across the country.

“Cumbersome permitting processes and other bureaucratic roadblocks have significantly undermined access to recreational opportunities for lands that should be available for all Americans to enjoy,” Chairman Bishop said. “This bipartisan bill cuts through that red-tape and ensures federal land managers are focused on their role in providing the public with high-quality outdoor experiences.”

“The RNR Act puts the engine for Oregon’s recreation economy into top gear, creating rural jobs and helping outdoor businesses thrive,” Senator Wyden said. “Our bipartisan bill will break down barriers to the great outdoors, allowing more visitors to take advantage of the endless recreation experiences our public lands have to offer.”

Background:

The bipartisan RNR Act would promote access to outdoor recreation opportunities and allow more visitors to get outdoors. The RNR Act would streamline the permitting process for guides and recreation enthusiasts, hold federal agencies accountable for making outdoor recreation a priority for the first time, and increase volunteerism to address the maintenance backlog on federal lands.

H.R. 3400 also ensures fees collected from ski areas are retained for the maintenance of those lands, rather than reverting back to the Treasury.