Hundreds of businesses and organizations in the outdoor recreation sector are urging the Senate to pass the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act.
This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance access to outdoor recreation across the United States, benefiting all Americans, particularly those in underserved communities and with disabilities. The Act’s passage would modernize policies and support the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy, which sustains five million jobs nationwide.
According to a press release, the EXPLORE Act, which passed the House in April by unanimous consent, is expected to boost local and national economies. It aligns with similar legislation, the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA), which passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year.
In a letter to the Senate, the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Outdoor Alliance, and a broad coalition of over 250 outdoor recreation businesses and organizations urged senators to pass the EXPLORE Act.
They emphasized that advancing the Act during Great Outdoors Month would be a landmark achievement, noting it has garnered support from a diverse cross-section of the outdoor sector, including motorized and human-powered recreation enthusiasts, sportsmen and sportswomen, conservationists, economic development advocates, and state and local leaders across the country.
Jessica Wahl Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, expressed optimism about the Act’s potential.
“Congress is closer than ever to making history and passing the first-ever outdoor recreation-specific bill package. We are calling on the Senate to pass the EXPLORE Act and show our collective commitment to ensuring outdoor experiences are accessible to everyone now and for future generations,” Turner said.
Becky Humphries, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said the coalition believes the Act will expand access to public lands, streamline business permitting processes, and modernize outdoor infrastructure. “We urge Congress to pass this important legislation into law,” Humphries said.
Louis Geltman, VP of policy and government relations at Outdoor Alliance, expressed gratitude for the numerous congressional supporters of outdoor initiatives and hoped that Congress would quickly pass the EXPLORE Act.
The EXPLORE Act is sponsored by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ). In the Senate, similar legislation, the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA), is sponsored by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY).
For more information about the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, visit recreationroundtable.org.
