Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) announced the introduction of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. 

"Exploring the great outdoors is part of the fabric of this nation and our identity as Americans. Our beautiful lands and waters should be easily available for the enjoyment of all," Westerman said. "The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will improve access and opportunities for recreation across our public lands and waters. We're taking important steps to modernize visitor experiences, reduce overcrowding, improve access for those with disabilities, address infrastructure issues and reduce burdensome permitting processes for small businesses that depend on access to our public lands. I'd like to thank Ranking Member Grijalva for his collaboration on this landmark legislation and look forward to working to move this bill through the House and ultimately into law expeditiously."

"Americans’ love for our public lands and spending time outdoors is growing every year," said Ranking Member Grijalva. "The increasing popularity of outdoor recreation is a boon for local economies and job creation, but we must make sure our public land management agencies have the tools, resources, and staff they need to keep up. We must also prioritize conservation to uplift outdoor spaces, as well as equitable access to ensure recreation can be enjoyed by all Americans, in rural and urban communities alike. This requires a critical balance, and the EXPLORE Act can be an important part of the equation so long as we get the details right and not lose sight of the fact that our public lands need sustained investment and support."

Background

The EXPLORE Act is a wide-reaching piece of legislation that will improve the lives of outdoorsmen and women while also expanding access to America's public lands and waters. The legislation will:

• Improve public land access for sportsmen and women
• Modernize technology to improve visitor experiences, like increasing broadband connectivity and creating digital passes
• Streamline the permitting process and reduce fees for small businesses that depend on public land access
• Protect rock climbing in iconic places and create new long-distance bike trails
• Restore campgrounds and modernize infrastructure
• Support gateway communities by addressing housing shortages and outdated infrastructure
• Improve accessibility for military service members, veterans, individuals with disabilities and kids

The legislation is supported by a host of outdoor-oriented organizations, including advocates for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, recreational boating, camping, rock climbing and more. The bill is already scheduled for a subcommittee hearing on Thursday, Nov. 30. To learn more, click here.