EXPLORE Act Aims to Expand Access to Public Lands and Waters

This week, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with the strong bipartisan support of 22 members. The bill, led by Congressmen Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), had a hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee where several members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable testified.

The EXPLORE Act will boost local and national economies and give more Americans — especially those in underserved areas — greater access to green spaces and public lands and waters while updating antiquated policies and procedures that support the recreation businesses who connect people to outdoor experiences.

The bill introduction comes shortly after the release of new data from the Department of Commerce which shows in 2022, outdoor recreation accounted for $1.1 trillion in economic impact (2.2% of GDP) and 5 million jobs.

The EXPLORE Act would:

• Enable permit streamlining to ease burdens on outfitters and guides and improve access to outdoor experiences;

• Improve access to recreation on public lands and waters;

• Ensure access to green spaces in underserved communities;

• Develop, improve, and complete long range trails; and

• Invest in rural economic development.

For more information on the bill and its progress through the House, visit https://recreationroundtable.org/priorities/recreation-package/.