Congress just handed a big win to anyone who loves recreating outside. Leaders in the outdoor industry have spent 10 years fine-tuning the details of the EXPLORE ACT, a bill meant to improve outdoor recreation on America’s public lands and waters.
With just 2 weeks left in this year’s session, the U.S. Senate passed the legislation on Thursday. Since it already passed through the U.S. House earlier this year, it will now go to President Joe Biden’s desk for the final approval.
The bill enjoyed bipartisan support, but with the balance of power changing in D.C. next month, the bill’s advocates were ecstatic to see the EXPLORE Act cross the finish line. Over recent months (and years), a diverse cross-section of the outdoor industry lobbied Congress to support the bill, from climbers and hikers to hunters and anglers.
It probably helped that the outdoor economy recently set a new $1.2 trillion benchmark in economic output.
That’s especially true for the Outdoor Alliance, an advocacy group that formed 10 years ago — and has been working on the EXPLORE Act ever since.
“We are thrilled,” said Adam Cramer, CEO for the Outdoor Alliance, an advocacy group that formed 10 years ago — and has been working on the EXPLORE Act ever since. “The passage of EXPLORE sends a clear message that outdoor recreation and our public lands are bipartisan priorities.”
What Will the EXPLORE Act Do?
The EXPLORE Act is a huge piece of legislation, with more than 15 individual bills from both sides of the aisle affecting all kinds of outdoor activities on public lands. Some of the most significant actions involve improving trails and widening access.
According to the Outdoor Alliance, those include:
- The Biking on Long Distance Trails Act (BOLT Act) will identify and create more long-distance bike trails.
- The Protecting America’s Rock Climbing Act (PARC Act), which aims safeguard wilderness climbing.
- The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act (SOAR Act), which will improve recreational permitting for outfitters and guides.
- Codifies FICOR and the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership, which funds parks and green spaces.
Veterans, Housing
The legislation will also provide additional protections for access for horses and packers on public lands, according to Julie Broadway, President of the American Horse Council. Broadway praised the bill for its inclusion of the Military and Veterans in Parks Act, which would expand access for veterans to the “proven therapeutic benefits” of outdoor recreation and equine therapy. The bill will also:
- Improve access to parks and public lands for veterans and people with disabilities by building additional trails.
- Bolster affordable housing in gateway communities, where many workers face skyrocketing housing costs, primarily by offering leases within federal parks.
“AHC supports the EXPLORE Act because it protects access for horses and packers on public lands,” Broadway said. “Maintaining and expanding trail access on public lands ensures the next generation of horseback riders can explore and recreate safely alongside other users.
Hunting, Fishing
Advocacy group Backcountry Hunters & Anglers outlined several major initiatives of the EXPLORE Act that would positively impact the hunting and fishing community.
- Creating fee-less public shooting ranges in each BLM district or national forest, offering more opportunities for individuals to prepare for hunting seasons. In addition to establishing appropriate and accessible facilities for safe shooting, this would help consolidate recreational shooting taking place on our public lands and resulting litter.
- Authorizing the donation of hides, horns, and antlers harvested from wildlife management activities within the National Park System to the hunter. This would avoid the waste of wildlife and fully respect harvested animals.
- Establishing a grant program for the inspection and decontamination of watercraft to avoid the spread of aquatic invasive species, while allowing federal agencies to carry out those activities.
Low-Income Access, Tribes
Another part of the bill is the Outdoors for All Act, which codifies the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program and provides direct access to ORLP funding for tribes.
Those measures will “ensure that communities without access to green spaces and outdoor recreation can thrive,” said Lesley Kane Szynal, chair of the LWCF Coalition.
“Today’s passage of the EXPLORE Act is a pivotal moment for close-to-home outdoor access and conservation,” Szynal said.
Learn more about the EXPLORE Act — or even send a thank you to the lawmakers who helped pass it — on the Outdoor Alliance website.
