The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations representing the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy, said it applauds the formation of the newly established bipartisan Public Lands Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Reps. Gabe Vasquez (New Mexico) and Ryan Zinke (Montana) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers announced the launch of the caucus Wednesday, May 7 at a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol with a mission to protect public lands, expand access and promote economic and recreational opportunities.
“The creation of the Public Lands Caucus is a significant and welcome step forward in protecting and expanding access to our public lands and waters that power America’s $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy and enrich the lives of millions of Americans. Keeping public lands public is a business imperative. There couldn’t be a more important time to stand up for America’s best return on investment and keep public land selloff out of reconciliation,” said Whitney Potter Schwartz, senior vice president, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “ORR thanks Reps. Gabe Vasquez and Ryan Zinke for their leadership and all the bipartisan members of the Caucus who have come together to champion public lands access, stewardship, and infrastructure investments. We look forward to working with the caucus to ensure that public lands remain public and continue to be a foundation for outdoor experiences, local economies, and healthy communities for generations to come.”
Public lands are central to the outdoor recreation economy, supporting over 5 million American jobs and drawing people from all backgrounds to boat, camp, ride, hunt, fish, hike, paddle and more. With visitation increasing across federal, state, and local public lands and water, maintaining access and improving infrastructure is more important than ever.
ORR will work closely with the Public Land Caucus to elevate outdoor recreation and advance policies that support rural economic development, improve access, fund infrastructure and safeguard America’s natural heritage. ORR also is deeply committed to ensuring that public lands remain public — and accessible — for all.
“Public lands are where I learned to fish, hunt, and connect with my family and culture—and those experiences shaped who I am,” said Vasquez. “These lands don’t belong to one party or one group of people; they belong to all of us. The Public Lands Caucus is about protecting that birthright — bringing Democrats and Republicans together to preserve access, defend conservation, and invest in the outdoor economy that powers rural communities like mine in southern New Mexico. This is personal for me, and I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to keep our public lands in public hands.”
“I follow the Theodore Roosevelt motto that public lands are ‘for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,’ and that means making sure we both conserve and manage those lands to ensure public access for the next generation,” said Zinke. “Public lands aren’t red or blue issues; it’s red, white and blue. The bipartisan Public Lands Caucus brings together lawmakers who don’t agree on much, but we agree on and are ready to work together to promote policies that advance conservation and public access. I look forward to working with Co-Chair Vasquez, the vice chairs, and all the members of this caucus so future generations can enjoy the same opportunities to hunt, hike, fish, make a living and enjoy our uniquely American heritage.”
The launch of the Public Lands Caucus today was applauded by ORR members.
Phil Ingrassia, president of the national RV Dealers Association (RVDA): “Public lands are essential to the emotional and economic well-being of our nation. RVDA applauds the creation of the Public Lands Caucus and its commitment to enhancing access and expanding the infrastructure that supports millions of Americans who enjoy these shared spaces.”
Myke Bybee, senior director of Federal Relations, Trust for Public Land: “Trust for Public Land strongly commends Reps. Ryan Zinke and Gabe Vasquez for their bipartisan leadership in launching the Public Lands Caucus and introducing legislation — The Public Lands in Public Hands Act — which affirms the importance of our shared national landscapes. With Congress and the Administration considering proposals to sell off federal land, and as Americans visit public lands in record numbers—to hike, hunt and connect with nature—their leadership could not come at a more critical time.”
Jenn Dice, president & CEO, PeopleForBikes: “Public lands are an important part of the American experience and critical to the outdoor recreation economy, including the bicycle industry. We applaud the leaders of the Public Lands Caucus who are committed to protecting, managing, and staffing our most treasured natural spaces that are a source of our national pride.”
Rachel Franchina, executive director, Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals: “Public lands are part of the shared national identify of Americans. They are treasured places – both close to home and in iconic protected areas – for people to spend time with family and friends, recharge themselves and reconnect with nature. The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals supports Reps. Ryan Zinke and Gabe Vasquez’s Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus. High-quality experiences on public lands are something the vast majority of American value and their commitment to ensuring access to our shared heritage is more important now than ever.”
Mary Ellen Sprenkel, president & CEO, The Corps Network: “Americans love our public lands. Hundreds of millions of people visit our national parks, forests, and grasslands every year, helping drive local economies. The Corps Network proudly represents 150 Corps programs across the country that work with resource management agencies on critical maintenance projects that keep our public lands safe and open for all to enjoy. Through service on public lands, thousands of Corps participants every year gain invaluable work experience for the modern workforce. We appreciate the goal of the Public Lands Caucus to ensure Americans have access to the Great Outdoors.”
Dan Mahoney, government affairs manager, American Prairie: “American Prairie applauds Reps. Ryan Zinke and Gabe Vasquez for launching this bipartisan caucus to protect our country’s public lands. These lands are a cherished piece of America’s heritage, and one that American Prairie is committed to conserving and expanding access to in Montana. This new caucus’s dedication to the same is worth celebrating and so are the members of Congress leading the way to do so.”
Michael Reitzell, president of the National Ski Areas Association: “Millions of Americans and guests from around the world ski and ride on our unmatched public lands every year, providing a tremendous economic lift to our mountain communities. It’s always the right time to highlight the importance of public lands to America’s outdoor heritage, wellness, and economy. And in doing exactly that, NSAA applauds the leadership of Reps. Ryan Zinke and Gabe Vasquez in launching the Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus.”
Caryn Short, America Outdoors: “America Outdoors applauds Reps. Vasquez and Zinke for their leadership in launching the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus. Continued access to our public lands is vital to the health of the outfitting industry, rural economies, and the millions of Americans who rely on these landscapes for connection, livelihood, and adventure.”
Julie Sutton, senior director government affairs, VF Corporation: “VF Corporation and our portfolio of iconic outdoor brands applaud Reps. Ryan Zinke and Gabe Vasquez for their bipartisan leadership in establishing the Public Lands Caucus. This caucus has an opportunity to improve management of public lands, protect and conserve our natural resources and maintain access for everyone to enjoy the outdoors. We thank you for your commitment to our public lands.”
Julie M. Broadway, president, American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation: “According to American Horse Council’s latest economic impact study, 39 million U.S. households include a horse enthusiast, with recreational trail riders representing the largest segment of the equine industry — underscoring the critical need for access to public lands. Federal data supports this: the Bureau of Land Management estimates three million annual horseback riding visitors, along with 46,000 participating in pack use; the U.S. Forest Service cites 206,000 horseback riders, and the National Park Service reports 1.6 million. Conserving public lands, supporting local economies, and ensuring access for all Americans is essential to the equine community, and we strongly applaud the creation of this congressional caucus as a step toward protecting these shared resources.”
Aneil Kumar, president, iSportsman, LLC: “iSportsman has been opening our outdoors to recreations for almost 20yrs across the continental US, Hawaii and Alaska but our proud to say our team is proud to say that we are from VA-02 when we see our own Rep. Jen Kiggans as a founding member of the Public Lands Caucus. The leadership of this caucus will be vital to the commonsense policies that promote recreational public land use and drive local economies.”
