IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 794 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the national 

parks, national forests, and public lands and waters of the United States 

contribute greatly to the economic and physical well-being of Americans 

and can be further improved by public-private partnerships. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 21, 2018 

Mr. ROSS (for himself and Mrs. WALORSKI) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in 

addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently 

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the national parks, national forests, and public lands 

and waters of the United States contribute greatly to 

the economic and physical well-being of Americans and 

can be further improved by public-private partnerships. 

Whereas the Federal Government owns and manages roughly 

640,000,000 acres of land in the United States, including 

59 national parks; 

Whereas national parks, national forests, and public lands 

and waters conserve natural resources, preserve wildlife 

and cultural heritage, and are enjoyed by outdoor 

recreationalists from across the globe; 


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Whereas national parks saw a record-setting number of 

331,000,000 visitors during the National Park Service’s 

centennial year; 

Whereas Federal land agencies are struggling to address deferred maintenance costs; 

Whereas public-private partnerships can help expand access 

to recreational areas, address backlogged maintenance, 

and improve infrastructure on national parks, national 

forests, and public lands and waters; 

Whereas a strong economy and employment rate fund the 

programs necessary to sustain the health of national 

parks, national forests, and public lands and waters; 

Whereas outdoor recreation and camping in the United 

States contribute to the gross domestic product of the 

United States and Americans’ physical and mental 

health; 

Whereas outdoor recreation is the number one driver of economic activity on Federal lands; 

Whereas every dollar Congress invests in the National Park 

Service effectively returns $10 to the United States economy; 

Whereas outdoor recreation contributes $673,000,000,000 to 

the United States economy and supports 4,300,000 

American jobs; 

Whereas the American-made recreation vehicle industry is a 

domestic job-creating and thriving industry that contributes over $50,000,000,000 to the United States economy 

and supports over 300,000 American jobs; and 

Whereas the growing recreation vehicle industry has a significant positive economic impact on Federal campgrounds 


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and surrounding communities near national parks, national forests, and public lands and waters: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of Congress that public2 private partnerships should be utilized for— 

3 (1) modernizing and expanding campgrounds, 

4 increasing access to recreational areas, addressing 

5 backlogged maintenance, and improving deterio6 rating infrastructure in national parks, national for7 ests, and public lands and waters; and 

8 (2) conserving, preserving, and respecting the 

9 national parks, national forests, and public lands 

10 and waters of the United States. 

Æ 


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