Posts by Tyler Ray

As discussions between the House and Senate are underway to reconcile the FY23 Omnibus Appropriations bill for final passage, and enactment, the trails community requests that final legislation include robust funding for trails, including the preferred funding levels (at a minimum) and report language outlined below.

FY23 Senate Testimony of: Kathryn Van Waes, PhD., Executive Director, American Hiking Society and with the full support of American Trails, American Motorcyclist Association, Back Country Horsemen of America, Equine Land Conservation Resource, International Mountain Bicycling Association, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

We are writing on behalf of the National Trails Community to express support for the National Scenic Trails Parity Act, S. 2964, (Parity Act) introduced by Senator Baldwin. We represent National Scenic and Historic Trail co-managing non-governmental organizations with extensive experience co-managing our National Scenic and Historic Trails with our agency partners in the federal and state governments and the millions of users and volunteers that recreate on and steward these trails.

On behalf of American Hiking Society and the 57 million strong hiking community who enjoy the trails and green spaces in their communities, we write in support of the committee’s advancement of the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2022 (S. 3266), and the sections highlighted below, which will support hikers, trails, public lands, and the outdoors by expanding outdoor recreation access and bringing much needed improvements how the public accesses these spaces.