Sen. Kelly Ayotte and Rep. Jared Polis recognized for leadership on outdoor recreation economy issues
Boulder, CO -(Ammoland.com)- Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) has presented Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Representative Jared Polis (D, CO – 2nd) with their 2015 Friend of the Outdoor Industry Award, for their leadership on important industry issues and for their support of legislation that promotes the growth and success of the outdoor industry.
The OIA Friend of the Outdoor Industry Award is presented to members of Congress and administration officials in recognition for their leadership in support of the outdoor recreation industry.
“Senator Ayotte and Representative Polis have been exemplary in their actions to support and defend the outdoor recreation economy,” said Steve Barker, Interim Executive Director of Outdoor Industry Association. “Their initiatives on trade issues and public lands and recreation policy have been critical to the health of our industry.”
Ayotte has demonstrated her support for the outdoor recreation industry on both international trade issues and on our public lands/recreation policy. She is the lead sponsor of the U.S. OUTDOOR Act, OIA’s signature trade legislation, and was supported in her efforts by a media push in New Hampshire that highlighted the importance of the recreation economy to the state. She also introduced legislation that would reauthorize the soon to be expired Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), one of the industry’s most important policy programs.
Polis has discussed the importance of the outdoor recreation industry with his district, the state of Colorado and the nation in speeches on the House floor, often citing OIA recreation economy data. He is also highly responsive to requests from OIA and outdoor industry executives in his district, most recently personally calling U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman to discuss the need for specific policies for outdoor industry products in U.S. trade policy and in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
Outdoor industry leaders presented the awards to Ayotte and Polis during meeting in their D.C. offices as part of OIA’s 2015 Capitol Summit.
OIA encourages its members to attend Capitol Summit and to engage in advocacy year round, both on the national and local level.
Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, CO, with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA supports the growth and success of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers of outdoor recreation apparel, footwear, equipment and services.
For more information, please visit www.OutdoorIndustry.org or call 303.444.3353.