SW Arkansas Times

The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act has successfully passed the U.S. House of Representatives with unanimous support and is now on its way to the president's desk for signing into law. This legislative move was applauded by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), who expressed his satisfaction with the bill's passage.

"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," Westerman stated. "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."

The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at enhancing outdoor recreation by improving access to public lands and waters across America. Supported by over 500 outdoor organizations, it addresses various recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, horseback riding, recreational boating, camping, rock climbing, among others.

Key provisions of the legislation include improving access to public lands for outdoor activities, modernizing technology like broadband connectivity to enhance visitor experiences, streamlining permitting processes while reducing fees for small businesses reliant on public land access. Additionally, it aims to protect rock climbing sites, create new bike trails, restore campgrounds, modernize infrastructure, address housing shortages in gateway communities, and improve accessibility for military service members, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and children.