Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to pass the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. It now heads to the desk of President Joe Biden to sign into law.
The bipartisan legislation includes much-needed provisions to expand equitable and inclusive access to the outdoors for veterans, youth, families, and communities across the country. The House passed a version of EXPLORE in April.
Highlights from the EXPLORE Act include:
- The Outdoors For All Act would authorize the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, which helps economically disadvantaged communities with little to no access to public outdoor recreation spaces.
- The Military and Veterans in Parks Act would promote opportunities and enhance outdoor recreation experiences for veterans and active duty members on federal lands and water by improving disability access, increasing awareness of and access to assistive technology, and including a jobs pilot program for veterans at the Department of the Interior.
- The Every Kid Outdoors program provides all 4th graders and their families free access to over 2,000 federally-managed parks, lands and waters.
- The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act would simplify and 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, Jackie Ostfeld, director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign, released the following statement:
“This is a rare bipartisan victory during a very divided time in our country. Congress found common ground to improve outdoor accessibility for communities everywhere. For neighborhoods without a park in walking distance, for people with mobility issues, for kids who have yet to experience our country’s natural wonders, the EXPLORE Act will improve the lives of families everywhere.
“By passing the EXPLORE Act, the Senate is bringing us another step closer to ensuring safe, affordable, and equitable access to our parks and public lands. One thing is clear, spending time outdoors is something we can all agree on.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.