Title: 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.
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Expresses the sense that public-private partnerships should be utilized for expanding campgrounds, increasing access to recreational areas, improving infrastructure in public lands and waters, and conserving such lands and waters.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 794 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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 and surrounding communities near 
        national parks, national forests, and public lands and waters: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of Congress that public-private 
partnerships should be utilized for--
            (1) modernizing and expanding campgrounds, increasing 
        access to recreational areas, addressing backlogged 
        maintenance, and improving deteriorating infrastructure in 
        national parks, national forests, and public lands and waters; 
        and
            (2) conserving, preserving, and respecting the national 
        parks, national forests, and public lands and waters of the 
        United States.
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