Contact: Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congress today passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, the bipartisan House outdoor recreation package. The legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Bruce Westerman and Raúl Grijalva, would improve accessibility options outdoors, improve or create new outdoor recreation facilities, and introduce more generations of children to the outdoors.
Highlights from the package include:
- The Every Kid Outdoors program, which grants free access to federal public lands and waters to fourth graders and their families, would be reauthorized for seven years.
- The Outdoors for All Act would authorize the existing Outdoors Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, which provides funding to economically disadvantaged communities with little to no access to public outdoor recreation spaces to build or improve outdoor recreation sites and facilities.
- The Military Veterans in Parks Act would improve signage and disability access, as well as increase awareness of and access to assistive technology.
- The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act would streamline permitting processes for guides, outfitters, outdoor leaders and nonprofit organizations. This would reduce barriers that communities and organizations can face in organizing outdoor excursions and facilitating access to nature.
In response, members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids released the following statements:
“It is great to see Congress acknowledge the importance of inclusive legislation and on a bipartisan level by passing the EXPLORE Act,” said Julia Hurwit, Campaign Manager for OAK. “Members of OAK are united by a shared mission to help more children, youth and families access the outdoors. The EXPLORE Act is going to provide a solid foundation for our work for the next few years by increasing the opportunities for children to access public lands, expanding options for families that want to spend time in nature, and offering safe and improved outdoor recreation amenities to communities.”
“Latino Outdoors supports the EXPLORE Act as an essential step in creating a safer, more accessible outdoors for many more Americans. Roughly two-thirds of Hispanic and Latino communities live in nature-deprived areas across the U.S. The EXPLORE Act, including legislation like the Outdoors for All Act, would significantly bolster our investment in green spaces and outdoor job opportunities within historically underserved and economically disadvantaged communities,” said Melodie Mendez, Regional Coordinator, Latino Outdoors.
“We are thrilled to witness the incorporation of the MVP Act within the EXPLORE Act,” said Vicky Perkins, Senior Director of Impact Programs for Blue Star Families. “As a military organization, Blue Star Families is excited about the potential for the MVP Act to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for military and veteran families, ensuring they have equitable access to the outdoors, a fundamental human right.”
“Since its launch, the Every Kid Outdoors program has helped millions of children go out and enjoy the beauty of our National Park system. That is why KABOOM!, which is focused on ensuring every kid has access to places to play, applauds this program’s extension in the EXPLORE Act. Nature and nature-based play are vital to a child’s healthy physical and mental development. Programs which reduce financial barriers to these activities are critically important to ensuring the equitable enjoyment and distribution of benefits of nature access that every child should experience. We want to thank the long-time champions of this program and the sponsors for prioritizing kids having access to the outdoors,” said Ronda Jackson, Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and Evaluation at KABOOM!.
