Today, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with unanimous support. The bill now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

“Today, Congress delivered a major win for Americans who like to get outside and enjoy the incredible public lands and waters that help make this the greatest country in the world. This influential bipartisan legislation will create new opportunities for climbers and bikers, increase access for veterans and service members, support small businesses and communities in the outdoor recreation economy and help modernize and improve visitor experiences. I'm proud to support this legislation and thankful for all the hard work leading to this incredible win."

Background

The EXPLORE Act is a wide-reaching piece of legislation that will improve the lives of outdoorsmen and women while expanding access to America's public lands and waters. It is supported by more than 500 outdoor organizations, including advocates for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, recreational boating, camping, rock climbing and more. 

The legislation will:

• Improve access to public lands and waters for outdoor recreation
• Modernize technology to improve visitor experiences, like increasing broadband connectivity and creating digital recreation 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• Support gateway communities by addressing housing shortages and outdated infrastructure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 access for military service members, veterans, individuals with disabilities and kids

To learn more, click here.