Rep. Burgess Owens on Protecting Small Businesses and Outdoor Tourism

Executive Order for Outdoor Recreation Businesses

• 🎯 An executive order signed in 2018 by President Trump exempted seasonal outdoor recreational businesses on federal lands from certain SLSA requirements, specifically overtime.
• 💡 These businesses, like those offering multi-day guided hikes, often hit the 40-hour work week quickly, triggering overtime costs that could make these experiences unaffordable.
• ⛰️ The exemption was crucial to prevent federal regulations from significantly increasing the cost of guided tours and hikes, allowing more visitors to enjoy federal lands.

Impact on Small Businesses and Overtime Rules

• 💰 The overtime rules disproportionately affect small, independent businesses, including those providing services like e-bike rentals in national parks.
• ⚠️ Business owners often unknowingly violate wage laws, and investigations or litigation can lead to bankruptcy, highlighting the need for clearer regulations.
• 🏞️ The speaker emphasizes that many of these businesses are small and that the overtime requirements can negatively impact their ability to operate and serve customers.

Proposed Legislation to Support Small Business Owners

• 📜 Representative Burgess Owens plans to introduce the "Outdoor Recreational Outfitting and Guiding Act" to provide a long-term solution for outfitters and guides.
• ⚖️ This act aims to exempt eligible employees from overtime limits, supporting and expanding the outdoor tourism industry.
• ✅ The goal is to encourage more Americans to experience the nation's natural beauty by creating a more favorable regulatory environment for small businesses in the outdoor sector.
• 🤝 Protecting small business owners is framed as essential for powering the middle class and preserving American culture.