July 22, 2020 3:15 a.m.

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with ten of their colleagues, have sent a letter to Senate leadership urging them to include support for outdoor recreation and public land infrastructure jobs in the next COVID-19 relief package.

A release from Wyden and Merkley said the senators believe more investment is needed in order to bring back jobs lost as outdoor tourism has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter said 75 percent of small businesses in the category that includes outdoor recreation, are struggling due to the crisis. It said the outdoor tourism and recreation industry employs 5.2 million American workers and accounts for over 3 percent of U.S. employment, over 2 percent of the gross domestic product, and generates $778 billion in economic input. The letter said the industry has gone from one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy to experiencing record unemployment.

The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.