Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act” becoming law. The EXPLORE Act is landmark, bipartisan legislation that transformed access and outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands. Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

“I’m proud to have championed the EXPLORE Act, which was first-of-its-kind outdoor recreation legislation designed to expand access and recreation opportunities on our beautiful public lands and waters. I am thrilled to see all the ways it has enhanced Americans’ enjoyment of the outdoors a year after its passage. As we enter America’s 250^th year, I encourage every American to get outside and explore all that our public lands and waters have to offer.”

Background

America’s vast public lands and waters offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including biking, camping, hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking, kayaking, recreational shooting, rock climbing, skiing, and much more. The EXPLORE Act highlighted this by:

• Improving public land access for sportsmen and women by creating new target shooting ranges.
• Modernizing technology to improve visitor experiences, such as increasing broadband connectivity and creating digital recreation passes.
• Streamlining the permitting process and reducing fees for small businesses.
• Protecting rock climbing in iconic places and creating new long-distance bike trails.
• Restoring campgrounds and modernizing infrastructure.
• Supporting gateway communities by addressing housing shortages and outdated infrastructure.
• Improving accessibility for military service members, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and kids.

Chairman Westerman, alongside the late U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, introduced the bipartisan EXPLORE Act at the end of November of 2023. It passed the House of Representatives in April 2024 unanimously and the Senate unanimously in December 2024. The EXPLORE Act was signed into law in January 2025.