Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is looking ahead to a new U.S. president and administration, and the opportunities they bring, by taking some big steps to expand its government affairs work in 2008.
OPENING OF A WASHINGTON, DC, OFFICE
The biggest news is the opening of a full-time OIA government affairs office in Washington, DC. This new office will give OIA a permanent footing in the U.S. capital and allow our government affairs team to have a voice on Capitol Hill every day, promoting the issues that are important to our member companies.
OIAs new director of recreation policy, Todd Keller, is already in place and working hard to line up support for increased funding for the Forest Service, National Park Service, desert recreation destinations and, perhaps most important, the neighborhood parks and trails that introduce most Americans to outdoor activities and ensure kids have a place to play right outside their front doors.
OIA has worked on these programs for many years and has developed strong coalition partners, most of whom are already based in Washington. Todds full-time presence means OIA will be ready to go as important recreation legislation is considered on Capitol Hill.
EXPANDED OIA POLICY AGENDA
OIA members will also notice some new items on this years government affairs policy agenda. Our trade work will focus on promoting a bill specific to the outdoor industry that is intended to remove the disproportionately high tariffs paid by companies as they import performance jackets and pants. Currently, manufacturers of performance outerwear pay an average of 18 percent in tariffs at import, with tariff rates reaching 28 percent on some products. Another bill, supported by OIA and receiving broad support, will provide tariff relief for many manufacturers of outdoor footwear.
Many OIA member companies will make the trip to Washington this year to lobby in support of these bills. Passage will mean a significant cost savings and will ensure that our products receive fair and predictable treatment under U.S. trade laws.
On the recreation front, OIA will again focus on ensuring that the federal agencies that manage our system of public lands have the funding they need to properly do their jobs. This includes a specific focus on the Forest Service. OIA will work with members of Congress to find a way to prevent fire costs from engulfing the Forest Services budget to the point that the agency has no money or resources to devote to managing the 140,000 miles of trails it oversees.
OIA will take that process one step further this year, getting involved in the planning of how specific forests and desert landscapes will be managed. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are developing plans that will determine what kind of recreational experiences outdoor enthusiasts will have when they hike, climb, ski and camp on public lands. These decisions will have real and widely felt impacts for recreational users for many years to come, and the OIA board of directors has asked the government affairs staff to work to preserve quality recreation opportunities for our active outdoor customers.
Finally, there is great interest in providing opportunities to reconnect children with nature. OIA will support efforts in Congress that have this goal. This means continuing our efforts to make sure children have local parks and trails to visit, as well as supporting programs that include nature-based curricula in classrooms.
OIAS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
As you see, OIA has an aggressive government affairs agenda with the goal of ensuring the growth and success of the active outdoor recreation industry. Congress and the new president will play a big role in how our public lands are managed for recreation, and whether our innovative outdoor products are treated fairly and properly as they move through the supply chain to retail.
The new OIA Political Action Committee (OIAPAC) is another important component in our overall government affairs effort. OIAPAC will allow our industry to support candidates for federal office whose policy views and voting records are aligned with OIAs policy agenda. OIAPAC is an exciting undertaking for our industry and will contribute to our effort to educate policymakers about the importance of the active outdoor industry.
OIA also plans to provide information to the industry on the candidates who are nominated by their political parties to run for president, featuring a specific look at their voting records and policy positions on the issues we care about.
All of these efforts are meant to raise the importance and profile of the active outdoor recreation industry as we look ahead and present new ideas for a new presidential administration and a new Congress in 2009. We welcome your thoughts and input on our plans to best represent you.
OIAs director of government affairs, Amy Roberts, can be reached at 303-327-3511 or aroberts@outdoorindustry.org.
