President Trump signed Great American Outdoors Act into law today!
Today, the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump. This bipartisan legislation will improve our public lands, stabilize funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide economic relief to help kick-start the economy. The historic conservation bill cleared the U.S. House of Representatives in July after passing the U.S. Senate in June.
And YOUR advocacy was an important part of making this a reality! Thank you to each of you who wrote your congressman, shared posts and links, and made your voice heard on behalf of our outdoors.
Read more about the specifics of this legislation in the link below, but here is a snapshot:
Specifically, it will:
Direct non-taxpayer funds already being deposited in the Land and Water Conservation Fund – including $900 million in annual offshore energy receipts that routinely have been diverted from the fund for decades – to be spent only and fully on their intended purpose. Specific language protects congressional oversight of LWCF spending through the appropriations process, including the assessment of annual needs and adjustment of allocations according to changing opportunities and submissions from state and community partners.
Establish the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Fund, which would direct up to $9.5 billion in non-taxpayer monies (unobligated mineral receipts) over five years to address priority repairs in national parks and on other public lands. The National Park Service would receive 70% of Fund proceeds; the U.S. Forest Service would receive 15%; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Education schools would each receive 5%.
PPORA is partnering with the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC to present this week's Chamber Connect:
The Resiliency of Our Outdoor Recreation Industry
Thursday, August 6, 2020
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
This Chamber Connect will be a panel discussion that focuses on the resilience and recovery of the sports and outdoor recreation industry.
Our panelists will talk about the obstacles and the adaptations in their businesses, including:
Supply chain and vendor relationships
Operations and employee restructuring
Planning for the future
Panelists:
Becky Leinweber - Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance (PPORA)
Micah Rice - Pikes Peak APEX
David Leinweber - Angler's Covey
Jim Smith - Mountain Chalet
Jason Mezey - Routes Outfitters
Can't make the live event? Register anyway to receive the recording of the presentation.
2-Part Virtual Event
Tuesday, August 11th & Thursday, August 20th
9:00-10:30 a.m.
The challenges facing the Pikes Peak region’s outdoor recreation and natural places have been magnified and become even more urgent with the pandemic. Although we have come together as a community in the past and made progress that has brought us to today, significant concerns face our future. Join us and our outstanding speakers as we have an honest conversation about what’s at risk and how we can work together for a better future.
Part One – August 11, 2020 – Current Realities & Future Outlook of Recreation in the Pikes Peak Region
E. Lynn Burkett (Keynote), Director, Recreation, Lands, & Minerals & Volunteers at U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region
Samantha Albert (Moderator), Deputy Director, Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
Brett Ackerman (Panelist), Southeast Region Manager, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Kalem Lenard, (Panelist), Royal Gorge Field Office Assistant Manager, BLM
Dave Condit (Panelist), Pike and San Isabel Deputy Forest and Grassland Supervisor, USFS
David Leinweber, Chairman, Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance
Part Two – August 20, 2020 – Successful Strategies for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation & Tourism
Chris Castilian, (Moderator), Executive Director, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
John Messner (Panelist), Former County Commissioner, Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee (STOR)
Patsy McEntee (Panelist), Project Manager/Landscape Architect, National Park Service; Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
Tom Waters, (Panelist), Operations Manager, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Cindy Williams, (Panelist), Co-lead, Envision Chaffee County: Recreation in Balance
David Leinweber, Chairman, Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance
Sign up for one or both parts! It's FREE and well worth your time!
