U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner is one of four recipients of the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2017 Friend of the Outdoor Industry Awards, the Boulder-based trade organization said Wednesday.

Gardner, a Yuma Republican, and his fellow lead sponsors of the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act are being recognized as champions of the industry and for their commitment to encouraging outdoor recreation, an OIA spokeswoman said. The bipartisan legislation passed both chambers of Congress unanimously and was signed into law in November by President Barack Obama.

The legislation — known as the REC Act — directs the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis to measure the impact of outdoor recreation on the country’s gross domestic product, and OIA Executive Director Amy Roberts called it “one of the most important legislative efforts in our industry’s history” in a statement announcing the annual awards, which are in their 17th year.

In addition to Gardner, this year’s award is going to U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, and U.S. Reps. Dave Reichert, a Washington Republican, and Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat. The awards will be handed out at the OIA Capitol Summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

OIA, the leading trade association for the industry with more than 1,300 members, also noted that Gardner was co-sponsor of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, has hosted a Recreation Roundtable discussion in Colorado and co-sponsored the Wildlife Disaster Funding Act.

The U.S. outdoor recreation industry generates $646 billion annually in consumer spending, according to a report prepared by OIA, accounting for 6.1 million jobs and $80 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.

Last year’s Friend of the Outdoor Industry Awards went to President Barack Obama, New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson of Idaho and Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon.

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis won the award in 2015, and his predecessor representing Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, former U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, was a recipient in 2008. The honor was bestowed upon former U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar twice, in 2006 and 2007.

— ernest@coloradostatesman.com