By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
Outdoor recreation has received a boost after U.S. House Committee on
Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced H.R. 6492, the "Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act." This bipartisan public lands and recreation bill expands on S. 873, the "America's Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023" (AORA), while also including SEMA-supported key provisions from AORA.
The EXPLORE Act increases opportunities for motorized and non-motorized access to public lands, streamlines permitting for recreation, improves visitor experiences, creates new opportunities for recreation, addresses the lack of affordable housing causing staffing shortages on public lands and transforms outdoor recreation experiences for active duty military members, veterans and Gold Star families.
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on the EXPLORE Act and is expected to hold a vote on the bill before the end of the year.
SEMA is advocating for the bill to pass through committee given that it will improve and expand America's outdoor recreation economy while delivering sustainable economic boosts to rural communities. The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive legislative effort that increases access to outdoor recreation opportunities to help grow the $1.1 trillion impact of the outdoor recreation industry. You can find more information about the major provisions of the legislation by reviewing the section-by-section.
"SEMA thanks Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Grijalva for introducing the EXPLORE Act. This bipartisan bill would streamline the process and expenses associated with obtaining special recreation permits, require federal land management agencies to increase opportunities for motorized and non-motorized access on public lands, and direct the BLM and Forest Service to make maps available to the public depicting where vehicles are allowed to recreate," said Mike Spagnola, SEMA president and CEO.
Take action today: click here to ask your representative to support the EXPLORE Act.
For more information on the EXPLORE Act, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.