In Case You Missed It, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined business owners, former National Park Service employees, and community leaders in Reno and Las Vegas this week to raise the alarm about the potentially devastating impacts of President Trump’s policies on Nevada’s outdoor recreation industry. From tariffs to funding cuts to firing National Park Service staff, Trump’s chaotic policies are jeopardizing the Silver State’s $8.1 billion outdoor recreation industry, threatening over 58,000 Nevada jobs.
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KRNV, Reno (Broadcast)
Reporter: “The Gear Hut’s been running in Midtown for the past seven years under the tutelage of Leah Wzientek. She said during the average day, plenty of explorers come through her doors, but there’s also many federal workers with the National Parks and Forest Service in need of the essentials. […] However, many of these federal positions could be slashed under President Trump’s proposed budget plan, and on Tuesday, Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto stood with Wzientek and other business leaders from around the Silver State to sound the alarm.”
Cortez Masto: “Nevada’s natural beauty alone isn’t what brings its visitors. It’s our National Park Service staff as well, who keep our parks and sites functioning and clean and keep our visitors safe.”
KOLO, Reno (Broadcast)
Reporter:“Concerns raised at the meeting were cuts to critical federal funding and the termination of National Park Service staff. Reduced funding means fewer resources for forest management, trail maintenance, lake clarity research, and wildlife protection. Community leaders in attendance say tariffs also affect some outdoor recreation small businesses that rely not only on healthy tourism but also on reliable supply chains, many of which do not exist within the U.S. They also add that outdoor recreation contributes $5.2 billion annually to Washoe County’s economy. It also generates over $440 million in state and local taxes and generates around 43,000 jobs in Washoe County alone.”
KLAS, Las Vegas (Broadcast)
Cortez Masto: “It is currently crunch time for the National Park Service, for our small businesses, and for our travel industry. […] Because of the policies of this administration, [there’s a] negative impact to our outdoor recreation, […] it is increasing costs for families, household costs, energy costs, health care costs, clothing, you name it.”
Reporter: “Mandi Elliott with Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition says it’s hurting businesses like rental company Base Camp Outdoor Gear.”
Elliot:“The drop in tourism is affecting them specifically and the tariffs are affecting them specifically, and it’s not just as simple as ‘Well, buy all of your materials in America.’ It’s the chaos and the uncertainty and the slim margins that small businesses are working with, make that transition near impossible.”
Univisión, Las Vegas (Broadcast)
Reportero: “La senadora Catherine Cortez Masto, demócrata de Nevada, ofreció una conferencia con líderes comunitarios locales y representantes empresariales de la industria de la recreación al aire libre para analizar los devastadores impactos que las políticas administración de Donald Trump han y podrían seguir golpeando a la economía local de la recreación al aire libre de Nevada. […] Las políticas comerciales del presidente han también aumentado los costos para las familias y recorten los servicios de los que dependen tanto los turistas como los nevadenses.”
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