Ian Brickey (202) 675-6270 or ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held a hearing on the Outdoors for All Act, sponsored by Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) today, February 27, 2020. The important bipartisan bill would help communities around the country construct and improve parks and other outdoor recreational spaces, particularly in underserved communities that lack access to outdoor recreation areas. Witnesses included Allegra “Happy” Haynes, Executive Director of the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation and Denver Deputy Mayor.
After the hearing, Joel Pannell, Associate Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign, released the following statement:
“The individual and community benefits of outdoor experiences are well-known. The Outdoors for All Act would be an important step towards building healthier and more sustainable communities by prioritizing the development of parks and outdoor spaces. While access to the outdoors is a human right, the fact is one-third of Americans do not have reasonable access to spaces for outdoor recreation. The Outdoors for All Act will help to ensure that a direct connection to nature is available to all, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds."
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.