Outdoor Economy Act

To establish within the Department of the Interior the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Outdoor Economy Act 2. Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee (a) Establishment There is established within the Department of the Interior a committee, to be known as the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee Committee (b) Membership (1) Composition The Committee shall be composed of 17 members, of whom— (A) one shall be the Chief of the Forest Service (or a designee); (B) one shall be the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (or a designee); (C) one shall be the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (or a designee); (D) one shall be the Director of the National Park Service (or a designee); (E) one shall be the Chief of Engineers (or a designee); (F) one shall be the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation (or a designee); and (G) eleven shall be appointed jointly by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, with special consideration given to appointees who represent diverse or underrepresented groups in the outdoor recreation economy, of whom one shall be a representative of each of— (i) State fish and wildlife management agencies; (ii) Tribal governments; (iii) hunting organizations; (iv) angler organizations; (v) motorized recreation organizations; (vi) horsemen organizations; (vii) human-powered transportation organizations; (viii) organizations that provide outreach or education to encourage youth participation in the outdoors, with specific preference given to organizations that engage economically disadvantaged or other underserved youth populations; (ix) veterans service organizations; (x) the outdoor recreation retail industry; and (xi) conservation organizations. (2) Date of appointments The appointment of a member of the Committee shall be made not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Term; vacancies (A) Term A member shall be appointed for the life of the Committee. (B) Vacancies A vacancy on the Committee— (i) shall not affect the powers of the Committee; and (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (4) Chairperson and vice chairperson The Committee shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Committee. (c) Meetings The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson. (d) Duties (1) Study The Committee shall conduct a study and develop recommendations relating to the following: (A) Increasing public access to public land. (B) Identifying and addressing the maintenance needs on public land that most directly impact recreational opportunities. (C) Reducing barriers for underserved communities to engage in outdoor recreation. (D) Promoting new and existing service opportunities on public land for youth and others. (E) Methods to engage the outdoor recreation community to curb the spread of invasive species. (F) Any other strategies to strengthen the outdoor recreation economy and increase responsible recreation on public land. (2) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Committee shall submit to Congress a report that contains— (A) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Committee under paragraph (1); and (B) recommendations of the Committee for such legislation and administrative actions as the Committee considers to be appropriate. (e) Powers (1) Hearings The Committee may hold such hearings, meet and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Committee considers to be advisable to carry out this section. (2) Information from Federal agencies (A) In general The Committee may secure directly from a Federal department or agency such information as the Committee considers to be necessary to carry out this section. (B) Provision of information On request of the chairperson of the Committee, the head of a Federal department or agency shall provide the information to the Committee. (3) Postal services The Committee may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal departments and agencies. (f) Committee personnel matters (1) Compensation of members (A) Non-Federal employees A member of the Committee who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Committee. (B) Federal employees A member of the Committee who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to the compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or employee of the Federal Government. (2) Travel expenses A member of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 (3) Staff (A) In general The chairperson of the Committee may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as are necessary to enable the Committee to perform the duties of the Committee. (B) Confirmation of executive director The employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Committee. (C) Compensation (i) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the chairperson of the Committee may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 (ii) Maximum rate of pay The rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel shall not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. (4) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services The chairperson of the Committee may procure temporary and intermittent services in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each fiscal year, to remain available until expended.

Summary: Outdoor Economy Act This bill establishes the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee within the Department of the Interior to study and develop recommendations relating to increasing public access to public land, addressing maintenance needs, reducing barriers to service opportunities on public land, strengthening the outdoor recreation economy, and increasing responsible recreation on public land.