Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) presented its 2013 Friend of the Outdoor Industry Award to Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT). Each year OIA presents this award to members of Congress or administration officials for their leadership in support of the outdoor recreation industry.
We are thankful for Senator Baucus support of the outdoor industry, said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of OIA. He understands the significant contribution of the outdoor industry to the U.S. economy and fights hard for trade and recreation policies that support the outdoor industry in Montana and across the United States.
As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Baucus oversees all U.S. trade legislation. In this role, Sen. Baucus has fought to maximize U.S. benefits from trade agreements with regional and global trading partners.
Sen. Baucus also serves as Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure and is a member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources. In these capacities, he has been a strong proponent of conservation funding and recreation programs, including preservation of Transportation Enhancements in MAP-21 and as the primary sponsor of the Land and Water Conservation Funding Act of 2013. In addition, he has been a solid supporter of preservation of Americas public lands and waters as Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers, and promoted funding for the recreational trails program.
The Friend of the Outdoor Industry Award is presented by industry executives during the Capitol Summit, OIAs annual outdoor industry lobbying event, which took place April 16-17 this year.
