Sinema-Backed Bipartisan Bill Expands Access to Outdoor Recreation

Press Release

WASHINGTON -- Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the bipartisan Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act--legislation that streamlines and improves the permitting process for outfitters, educational organizations, and community groups to enjoy Arizona's public lands.

"Arizona's economy thrives with a strong outdoor recreation industry, and our bipartisan bill cuts unnecessary regulations that will support Arizona businesses and jobs, and expand Arizonans' access to outdoor recreation," said Sinema.

The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, introduced by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), simplifies and improves the recreational permitting process for federal agencies. The bill reduces permit fees and cost recovery expenses for small businesses and organizations, helps control liability insurance costs for permit holders, reduces barriers to access for state universities, city recreation departments, and school districts, and increases flexibility for outfitters, guides and other outdoor leaders.

Arizona's outdoor recreation is a $21.2 billion industry, producing $1.4 billion annually in state and local revenue. Many of the 201,000 Arizona jobs supported by the outdoor economy are in rural communities, where they often have significant economic impact.

Last year, the U.S. Senate approved the Sinema-backed Great American Outdoors Act--landmark bipartisan legislation that provides permanent and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and addresses the maintenance backlog in Arizona's national parks and other public lands.

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