Industry groups praise Secretary Zinke in open letter

In an open letter published yesterday in the Wall Street Journal, executives from the marine industry joined a group more than 100 outdoor recreation industry companies praised the agenda being set by Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke during the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency. These executives represent many segments of the $887 billion outdoor recreation industry including the shooting, hunting, archery, camping, fishing, marine, motorcycle, powersports, hospitality and recreation vehicle sectors.

In the letter, the industry shares its excitement to work with Secretary Zinke, a strong supporter of outdoor recreation. Since his confirmation, Secretary Zinke has been working closely with the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable to increase access to recreational opportunities and enjoyment on all federal lands and waters. In addition to increasing access, ORIR is working with the Administration to establish public-private partnerships as an entrepreneurial mechanism for addressing part of the $20 billion in deferred maintenance and to achieve a better balance in decisions involving recreation and conservation.

“MRAA is proud to join America’s leading outdoor recreation associations and businesses in urging this administration to realize the importance of the outdoor recreation industry,” said William Higgins, public policy manager of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, whose president Matt Gruhn was among the individuals who signed the letter. “With more than a dozen of the country’s largest marine retailers signing on to this letter, we have sent a clear message that the recreational boating industry is ready to work with the President and Secretary Zinke to expand boating infrastructure and safeguard access to our nation’s waterways.”

Many in the outdoor recreation industry are encouraged by the President’s willingness to tackle America’s long-term infrastructure challenges and his promise of a trillion dollar infrastructure initiative that will increase access to the nation’s recreation lands through better bridges, roads, waterways and restored infrastructure within the nation’s parks.
Read the entire letter.

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