Congress Urged to Pass Bipartisan EXPLORE Act this Year – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Spearheaded by Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), 312 businesses and organizations across the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy, called on Congress in a letter today to pass the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act before the end of the year. The bipartisan EXPLORE Act, which has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives by unanimous consent in April, enjoys unprecedented support from a broad coalition of industry associations, conservation groups, and outdoor businesses.
The EXPLORE Act is a package of more than a dozen bipartisan policy measures designed to boost rural economies, foster community resilience, and enhance Americans’ quality of life by improving access to public lands and recreational opportunities across the nation, all without additional cost to taxpayers. The legislation will streamline processes crucial to the over 5 million American jobs supported by the outdoor sector and ensure more Americans can enjoy the health and environmental benefits of outdoor recreation.
“This is a pivotal moment for outdoor recreation and for all Americans who rely on access to the outdoors for health, enjoyment, and economic vitality and this letter signed by over 300 businesses and organizations underscores the need to pass the EXPLORE Act as soon as possible,” said Jessica Wahl Turner, President of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “The EXPLORE Act represents decades of hard work across the outdoor industry and support from leaders at all levels of government. Passing this bill will not only meet the surging demand for outdoor access but will also protect our public lands for future generations to enjoy.”
The EXPLORE Act addresses crucial issues impacting both urban and rural communities, from modernizing permitting processes for outfitters and guides to expanding green spaces in underserved areas and enhancing long-range trail systems. With provisions that benefit motorized and non-motorized recreation alike, as well as conservationists, sportsmen and women, and economic advocates, the EXPLORE Act represents the most diverse coalition of outdoor stakeholders ever assembled.
The EXPLORE Act is sponsored by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and 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).
This bill will revolutionize the outdoor recreation economy, paving the way for its continued growth while fostering equity and inclusivity in outdoor access. The American outdoor recreation community is eager to see the EXPLORE Act signed into law, benefiting the 145 million Americans currently enjoying outdoor activities—and creating new opportunities for millions more.
The text of the letter to Congress signed by over 310 outdoor recreation businesses and organizations is below and a PDF is available here.
Dear Members of Congress:
As businesses and organizations across the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy, we strongly urge the U.S. Senate to pass the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act by the end of the year. This historic legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives by unanimous consent in April, and an almost identical version passed twice out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee without opposition. The bill is supported by a large and diverse coalition of recreation organizations covering all outdoor activities, including industry associations, conservation groups, local, state and federal officials, and hundreds of American outdoor businesses that span the outdoor recreation economy.
The EXPLORE Act would support rural economies, communities, and our American quality of life. It streamlines efficiencies and updates processes that are critical to 5 million American jobs and over half of all Americans who get outdoors. This bipartisan legislation would respond to the increased demand for access to the outdoors while also protecting public lands and waters for future use.
We are counting on you to pass the EXPLORE Act by the end of this Congressional session, representing a landmark achievement for the 118th Congress and garnering widespread support from the most diverse coalition ever brought together in the outdoor sector, including motorized and non-motorized recreation, sportsmen and women, conservationists, economic development advocates, and elected leaders at all levels of government. Importantly, the legislation focuses on not just the 145 million Americans currently benefiting from outdoor recreation, but also the millions without access, and ensures equity so everyone can reap the health, social, and environmental benefits that time outside supports.
This EXPLORE Act would revolutionize outdoor recreation in all corners of the country and pave the way for the recreation economy’s continued growth. It will transform how Americans access and enjoy their public lands and waters by streamlining permitting processes to ease burdens on outfitters and guides, improving access to recreational opportunities, ensuring access to green spaces in underserved communities, developing and completing long-range trails, and investing in rural communities.
This bill results from the hard work of sponsors Chairman Joe Manchin, Ranking Member John Barrasso, Chairman Bruce Westerman, and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva, and many U.S. Senators and Representatives whose bills are included, communities across the nation, outdoor recreation businesses, and stakeholders over many years.
The American outdoor recreation business, conservation, and user community is eager for the Senate to pass this bipartisan and bicameral legislation. We have waited decades for some of these provisions to become law and without this important legislation, antiquated policies will remain a risk to our industry and those seeking to experience the outdoors. We strongly urge you to pass this comprehensive piece of legislation that meets the growing demand for outdoor access while also protecting public lands and waters for future generations.
Thank you for your leadership and for supporting a sustainable and growing outdoor recreation economy for the benefit of all Americans.
About ORR
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable is the nation’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation associations representing the more than 110,000 outdoor businesses in the recreation economy and the full spectrum of outdoor-related activities. The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows that outdoor recreation generated $1.1 trillion and 5 million American jobs in 2022, comprising 2.2% of the nation’s economy and 3.2% of all employees in the country.
