Ian Brickey: (202) 675-6270, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
Nearly 30 outdoor recreation groups, youth advocacy organizations, and businesses sent a letter to Capitol Hill urging members of Congress to pass an FY22 budget that includes ambitious funding to expand access to the outdoors for all.
"With COVID-19 continuing to take its toll on the mental and physical health of our children and families, it is absolutely critical that Congress work together to pass an omnibus FY22 appropriations bill that expands equitable access to the outdoors," the letter stated. "A continuing resolution (CR) would be incredibly disruptive to the $689 billion outdoor recreation economy and would severely impede our recovery from the pandemic."
Without the passage of a spending bill, current funding for the federal government is slated to run out on February 18, potentially causing a government shutdown. An omnibus spending bill would avert this crisis, while reversing damaging Trump-era cuts to funding levels for essential federal agencies.
OAK is a national strategic partnership of more than 100 businesses and organizations that represents more than 60 million Americans. Its allied organizations share a common interest in connecting children, youth and families with the outdoors.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.