U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today celebrated National Great Outdoors Month on the U.S. Senate floor.
June is National Great Outdoors Month and Daines is encouraging Montanans to enjoy public lands and support Montana’s economy. Daines is Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks.
Click HERE to download Daines’ floor remarks.
Click HERE to watch Daines’ floor remarks.
Daines’ remarks as prepared are below:
“Montanans can tell you that nothing beats getting outdoors for some hunting, skiing, fishing, backpacking, you name it – it’s our way of life. I left my first business career to get back to Montana while my knees were still good, so I could spend my time enjoying all that Montana’s outdoors have to offer. That’s why I’m excited June is National Great Outdoors Month.
“Montana’s outdoors have a special meaning for me, I even proposed to my sweet and beautiful wife Cindy at the top of Hyalite Peak, south of Bozeman – but the value of Montana’s outdoors is incredible. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, 64 thousand Montana jobs are directly tied to outdoor recreation. In 2012, outdoor recreation generated $5.8 billion in consumer spending in Montana alone. Nationally, outdoor recreation generates $887 billion in consumer spending each year and provides 7.6 million jobs.
“Folks travel across the nation, even across the world, to come visit America’s great outdoors – it’s all right here, in our backyard. I grew up just 90 miles away from Yellowstone National Park, and go back every year with my family.
“Hiking in Glacier, fly fishing the Gallatin, skiing in Whitefish, or floating down the Madison – we take these things for granted. That’s why it’s important we recognize the value of the outdoors during National Great Outdoors month – because when you visit a park, or go on a whitewater rafting tour – you’re not only getting a great experience yourself, you’re giving back to our local economy and helping to create jobs.
“I want to encourage everyone to recognize National Great Outdoors month by joining me and getting out there and experiencing all that the outdoors have to offer.”
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