ANOKA, Minn. — Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO), the parent company of 41 renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor lifestyle products to consumers around the globe, applauds the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for making progress toward passing America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA), the first package specific to the outdoor recreation industry. On Wednesday, May 17, the Committee moved the bill one step closer to passage by reporting the legislation out of committee. The legislation now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
In conjunction with the bill’s progress made Wednesday, Vista Outdoor sent a letter to the Committee’s two ranking senators — Joe Manchin, D-W.V., Chairman, and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Ranking Member — to thank them for supporting and championing the bipartisan legislation that will benefit the $862 billion outdoor recreation industry.
“America’s Outdoor Recreation Act will help remove barriers to outdoor recreation and access to public lands,” Fred C. Ferguson, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, Vista Outdoor, wrote in the letter to Sens. Manchin and Barrasso. “Furthermore, the legislation will strengthen the $862 billion outdoor recreation economy and the rural communities throughout the United States whose local economies rely on access to public lands and waters as well as quality infrastructure.”
Ferguson said Vista Outdoor specifically expresses its appreciation to the Committee for including the following provisions in America’s Outdoor Recreation Act:
- SOAR Act: This legislation fundamentally improves the way people access and experience the outdoors. The bill’s intent is to create parity within permitting, including on guided bike trips.
- BOLT Act: Long-distance bike trails are one of the fastest-growing segments of gravel riding, and this bill will attract more users to federal lands.
- Range Access Act: Recreational shooting and hunting have grown to include more diverse and active shooting sports participants. Expanding range infrastructure will promote safety, minimize dispersed target shooting and support wildlife conservation funding, as target shooting is the leading contributor to Pittman-Robertson.
- Outdoors for All Act: This legislation would expand outdoor recreational opportunities in urban and low-income communities across the U.S.
In March, Ferguson delivered remarks before U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Federal Lands, asking leadership in Washington to pass several groundbreaking recreation bills. And last fall, all 41 brands in Vista Outdoor’s portfolio called on leadership in Washington to pass America’s Outdoor Recreation Act.
The company continues to thank all the outdoor industry stakeholders who joined in support of this bipartisan opportunity to protect our public lands, ensuring we sustain the outdoors for generations to come.
About Vista Outdoor Inc.
Vista Outdoor (NYSE: VSTO) is the parent company of more than three dozen renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products. Brands include Bushnell, CamelBak, Bushnell Golf, Foresight Sports, Fox Racing, Bell Helmets, Camp Chef, Giro, Simms Fishing, QuietKat, Stone Glacier, Federal Ammunition, Remington Ammunition and more. Our reporting segments, Outdoor Products and Sporting Products, provide consumers with a wide range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative outdoor and sporting products. As Vista Outdoor announced in 2022, the company is separating its Outdoor Products and Sporting Products segments into two independent, publicly traded companies. For news and information, visit our website at www.vistaoutdoor.com
