Amata Cosponsors Bipartisan EXPLORE Act
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is an original cosponsor of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, a newly introduced comprehensive legislative package, already with strong bipartisan and bicameral support, to improve access and transform outdoor recreation opportunities on America’s public lands.
“I’m delighted to be an original cosponsor of the bipartisan EXPLORE Act that I will also support in the Natural Resources Committee,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Not only will this bill strengthen parks and recreational areas all over the nation, which our people and our Veterans visit along with much of the American public, but we also have a beautiful National Park of American Samoa and outdoor activities for our youth right here, and all of these efforts can look to future support in this bill.”
Led by Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the legislative effort was unveiled in a press conference Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol, previewing a Subcommittee on Federal Lands legislative hearing Thursday.
The EXPLORE Act is wide-reaching legislation that will improve the lives of outdoorsmen and women while also expanding access to America's public lands and waters. Nationally, the legislation will:
- Improve public land access for sportsmen and women;
- Modernize technology to improve visitor experiences, like increasing broadband connectivity and creating digital passes;
- Streamline the permitting process and reduce fees for small businesses that depend on public land access;
- Protect rock climbing in iconic places and create new long-distance bike trails
- Restore campgrounds and modernize infrastructure;
- Support gateway communities by addressing housing shortages and outdated infrastructure;
- Improve accessibility for military service members, veterans, individuals with disabilities and kids.
The nationwide outdoor recreation economy creates $1.1 trillion in economic output, 2.2 percent of the U.S. GDP, and supports five million jobs.
Chairman Westerman said, “Exploring the great outdoors is part of the fabric of this nation and our identity as Americans. Our beautiful lands and waters should be easily available for the enjoyment of all. The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will improve access and opportunities for recreation across our public lands and waters. We're taking important steps to modernize visitor experiences, reduce overcrowding, improve access for those with disabilities, address infrastructure issues and reduce burdensome permitting processes for small businesses that depend on access to our public lands. I'd like to thank Ranking Member Grijalva for his collaboration on this landmark legislation and look forward to working to move this bill through the House and ultimately into law expeditiously.”
Ranking Member Grijalva said, “Americans’ love for our public lands and spending time outdoors is growing every year. The increasing popularity of outdoor recreation is a boon for local economies and job creation, but we must make sure our public land management agencies have the tools, resources, and staff they need to keep up. We must also prioritize conservation to uplift outdoor spaces, as well as equitable access to ensure recreation can be enjoyed by all Americans, in rural and urban communities alike. This requires a critical balance, and the EXPLORE Act can be an important part of the equation so long as we get the details right and not lose sight of the fact that our public lands need sustained investment and support.”
Among those supporting the Capitol announcement were Ambreen Tariq, senior program manager, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable; Shannon O'Shaughnessy, general manager, REI Co-Op; Adam Cramer, executive director, Outdoor Alliance; Jessica Montoya, senior director of park equity and federal relations, Trust for Public Land; and Sasha DiGiulian, professional rock climber and CEO of Send Bars. They represent support for the legislation by a host of outdoor-oriented organizations, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, recreational boating, camping, and rock climbing advocates.
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