The Outdoor Industry Association Political Action Committee (OIAPAC) released its second slate of endorsed congressional candidates in the 2016 elections.

OIA is the national trade association for more than 1,200 suppliers, manufacturers and retailers in the $646 billion outdoor recreation industry. OIAPAC, works to elect more “outdoorists” to the United States Congress.

All candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate are considered, regardless of political party, and are reviewed based on their support for policies that promote the outdoor recreation economy.

“These candidates understand the importance of the outdoor recreation economy locally and across the nation and support the outdoor industry’s policy agenda in Washington, D.C.,” OIA said in an email announcement sent to members.

To earn OIA’s endorsement, candidates must demonstrate support for funding of and access to public lands and waters, support for a balanced international trade agenda that reduces product costs for the industry while promoting U.S. manufacturing where possible and support for action to address the alarming impacts of climate change.

OIAPAC-endorsed candidates for Senate
Patty Murray, D-Washington

  • Co-sponsor of the Outdoor Recreation’s Economic Contributions (REC) Act and strong supporter of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
  • Introduced Wild Olympics Wilderness bill, an OIA priority
  • Active supporter of OIA’s balanced trade agenda, including the U.S. OUTDOOR Act

OIAPAC-endorsed candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives
Suzanne DelBene, D-Washington, 1st

  • Public lands advocate through her strong support of LWCF and Wildfire Defense Funding Act (WDFA)
  • Active supporter of OIA’s balanced trade agenda, including the U.S. OUTDOOR Act

Bob Dold, R-Illinois, 10th

  • Public lands champion through his support of LWCF and  WDFA
  • Co-sponsor of House Republican resolution on climate change
  • Active supporter of OIA’s balanced trade agenda

Derek Kilmer, D-Washington, 6th

  • Public lands champion through his support of LWCF and WDFA
  • Supports Washington state public land protections and public lands bills
  • Active supporter of OIA’s balanced trade agenda, including the U.S. OUTDOOR Act

Ron Kind, D-Wisconsin, 3rd

  • Leader of New Democrats Coalition and House Ways and Means Committee member
  • Public lands champion through his support of LWCF and WDFA
  • Active supporter of OIA’s balanced trade agenda
  • Sponsor of the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act

Pat Meehan, R-Pennsylvania, 7th

  • House Ways and Means Committee member
  • Active supporter of OIA’s balanced trade agenda
  • Co-sponsor of House Republican resolution on climate change
  • Supporter of LWCF

Scott Peters, D-California, 52nd

  • Strong supporter of LWCF and co-sponsor of WDFA
  • Active supporter of OIA’s balanced trade agenda

Outdoorists running for Congress

Gail Schwartz, D-Colorado, 3rd

  • Supportive of the outdoor industry’s policy agenda in Washington, D.C.
  • Running on a platform that includes protection for public land and water and a commitment to grow the outdoor recreation economy.

You can view the full list of 2016 OIAPAC endorsed candidates here.

Outdoor Industry Association seeks input on our candidate endorsements from a broad diversity of OIA members, OIAPAC contributors, and our policy advisory committees, but these endorsements may not reflect the views of individual OIA member companies.

Photo courtesy Suzanne DelBene