I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5052 
To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to 
provide grants for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic develop-
ment, with a focus on rural communities, and to provide training for 
rural communities on funding opportunities for outdoor recreation, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2023 
Ms. STANSBURY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittees on Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Works and Economic Development 
Act of 1965 to provide grants for outdoor recreation 
projects to spur economic development, with a focus on 
rural communities, and to provide training for rural com-
munities on funding opportunities for outdoor recreation, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Outdoor Invest-
ment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS. 
Title II of the Public Works and Economic Develop-
ment Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 
207 (42 U.S.C. 3147) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 208. OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION
OF OUTDOOR RECREATION.—In 
this section, the term ‘outdoor recreation’ means all rec-
reational activities undertaken for pleasure that— 
‘‘(1) generally involve some level of intentional 
physical exertion; and 
‘‘(2) occur in nature-based environments out-
doors. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall make 
grants to eligible recipients for outdoor recreation projects 
to spur economic development, with a focus on rural com-
munities. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for 
each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028— 
‘‘(1) $30,000,000 for grants under section 201 
for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic de-
velopment, with a focus on rural communities; 
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‘‘(2) $5,000,000 for grants under section 203 
for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic de-
velopment, with a focus on rural communities; and 
‘‘(3) $2,500,000 for grants under section 207 
for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic de-
velopment, with a focus on rural communities.’’. 
SEC. 3. TRAINING FOR RURAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION. 
Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Com-
merce for Economic Development, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the Small Business Administration and 
the Secretary of Agriculture, shall develop a partnership 
agreement— 
(1) to provide for the development of— 
(A) basic training, including in-person or 
modular training sessions, for small business 
concerns (as defined in section 3 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)) and rural com-
munities relating to existing funding opportuni-
ties for outdoor recreation, including funding 
opportunities for— 
(i) business development; 
(ii) community planning; 
(iii) infrastructure investment; 
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(iv) community capacity building; and 
(v) marketing and communications; 
(B) informational materials relating to ex-
isting funding opportunities described in sub-
paragraph (A); and 
(C) opportunities to coordinate among 
Federal departments and agencies to share the 
basic training and informational materials de-
veloped under subparagraphs (A) and (B) with 
those departments and agencies and relevant 
nongovernmental organizations; 
(2) to provide the basic training and informa-
tional materials developed under paragraph (1)— 
(A) through electronic formats, including 
internet-based webinars; and 
(B) at physical locations, including offices 
of the rural development mission area; and 
(3) to make the basic training and informa-
tional materials developed under paragraph (1) 
available to rural business development entities that 
partner with programs of the rural development mis-
sion area, including institutions of higher education, 
nonprofit organizations, business incubators, and 
business accelerators. 
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SEC. 4. RECREATION ECONOMY FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES. 
(a) DEFINITION OF PROGRAM.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘program’’ means the Recreation Economy for Rural 
Communities planning assistance program sponsored by 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Under 
Secretary for Rural Development, the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Secretary 
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest 
Service. 
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—To build on the program, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Under Sec-
retary for Rural Development, in partnership with the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of 
the Forest Service, shall develop partnerships to connect 
the program to— 
(1) the Economic Development Administration 
and the Small Business Administration; and 
(2) the basic training and informational mate-
rials described in section 3. 
(c) GRANTS.—The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, in 
partnership with the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture, act-
ing through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall carry 
out a competitive grant program to assist entities other-
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wise eligible to receive assistance under the program in 
carrying out an action plan developed under the program. 
(d) CONSULTATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—On request of a regional 
commission described in paragraph (2), the entities 
carrying out the program shall consult with the re-
questing regional commission in carrying out the 
program. 
(2) REGIONAL
COMMISSIONS
DESCRIBED.—A 
regional commission referred to in paragraph (1) is 
any of the following: 
(A) The Appalachian Regional Commission 
established by section 14301(a) of title 40, 
United States Code. 
(B) The Delta Regional Authority estab-
lished under subtitle F of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
2009aa et seq.). 
(C) The Denali Commission established 
under the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 
U.S.C. 3121 note; title III of division C of Pub-
lic Law 105–277). 
(D) The Northern Border Regional Com-
mission established by section 15301(a)(3) of 
title 40, United States Code. 
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(E) The Northern Great Plains Regional 
Authority established under subtitle G of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
(7 U.S.C. 2009bb et seq.). 
(F) The Southeast Crescent Regional 
Commission established by section 15301(a)(1) 
of title 40, United States Code. 
(G) The Southwest Border Regional Com-
mission established by section 15301(a)(2) of 
title 40, United States Code. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the program $12,500,000 
for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. 
(2) GRANTS.—Beginning with fiscal year 2025, 
of the funds made available under paragraph (1) for 
each fiscal year, not less than 50 percent shall be 
used to carry out the grant program under sub-
section (c). 
Æ 
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