The bipartisan Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a broad package of recreation-oriented bills, passed its first legislative test in the US House of Representatives. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Coalition welcomes the action by the House Natural Resources Committee to approve this legislation, which includes a key Coalition priority, the Outdoors for All Act. This provision within EXPLORE will give people without adequate park access, particularly those living in low-income or park-poor areas, greater opportunities to experience green spaces and public lands.
Lesley Kane Szynal, Chair of the LWCF Coalition, expressed her appreciation to House Natural Resource Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4) and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-3) as well as Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44) and Mike Turner (R-OH-10) who introduced the standalone Outdoors for All Act in February 2023. “Today’s mark-up and vote is a key step in our efforts to make sure all people have the opportunity to access and enjoy parks and outdoor recreation areas no matter where they live. We look forward to full House action on this important priority.”
The Outdoors for All provision would codify and enhance the successful Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, a National Park Service competitive grant program funded by LWCF. Its goal is to help communities with little to no access to public outdoor recreation spaces.
About the LWCF Coalition
The LWCF Coalition is the umbrella group of more than 1,000 state and local landowners, small businesses, ranchers, sportsmen, veterans, outdoor recreationists and conservation organizations working to protect America’s public lands and safeguard our shared outdoor heritage for future generations. For more information on LWCF and the places in each state that have been protected using LWCF funds, visit LWCFCoalition.org.
