WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Arkansas congressmen Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman have joined with California Democrat Jared Huffman to introduce H.R. 6906, otherwise known as the LAKES Act.
LAKES, or Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong, will expand opportunities to improve and develop outdoor recreation facilities across the country at areas managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), according to a release from Womack's office.
USACE currently manages almost 257,000 facilities across 43 states. Under current law, the group can't retain recreation fee revenues collected onsite, unlike the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service.
Huffman and the two Natural State representatives said that the lakes in their states are huge attractions and legislation to make things easier for local managers is important.
"Outdoor recreation is a fundamental part of life for folks in my district, and its popularity – and the demand for increased access – is growing nationwide," Huffman said. "Local favorites for my constituents, like Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, provide all kinds of opportunities for outdoor fun. But local managers have to jump through countless hoops to keep these places safe and enjoyable."
“Arkansas’ Third is home to world-class outdoor offerings, attracting tourists and residents alike to enjoy the immense beauty and participate in our endless recreational activities," Womack said. "However, under current federal law, local managers of recreation sites we all know and love, such as Beaver Lake and Table Rock Lake, must cut through endless bureaucratic red tape to maintain and operate these sites effectively."
Womack adds that the bill would allow USACE to retain fee collections onsite and keep "maintenance and operations decisions out of the hands of federal bureaucrats and into the hands of the local managers who know these sites best."
According to Womack's office the LAKES Act would:
- Allow USACE to retain 80% of recreation fees collected onsite for operation and management expenses at that location.
- Amend the Challenge Cost Sharing Cooperative Management Agreement authority to enable nonprofit entities to enter into cooperative agreements to operate and maintain recreation facilities under USACE jurisdiction.
- Keep resources and decision-making related to the operation and maintenance of recreation facilities under USACE jurisdiction in the hands of local managers rather than federal officials.
Cosponsors of the Senate companion for the LAKES Act include Arkansas Republican John Boozman, North Dakota Republican Kevin Cramer, New Mexico Democrat Martin Heinrich, California Democrat Alex Padilla, Montana Democrat Jon Tester, and Montana Republican Steve Daines.
A letter of support for the LAKES Act signed by over 25 organizations representing the U.S. outdoor recreation industry can be found here.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.