Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that the Senate has passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive, bicameral legislation package that includes Zinke’s bipartisan Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act introduced with Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola in May 2023. The bill passed the House in April and will now go to the President’s desk for his signature.
“The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act just passed by the Senate brings federal and local stakeholders to the table to collaborate on access and opportunities,” said Rep. Zinke. “The bill solves the longtime issue of unrealized potential in capturing real-time data on trail density and encouraging visitation to nearby, less traveled trails. If hikers see a trail is crowded and have the option to hike a different route that is low traffic, that helps alleviate congestion and resource strain and also allows land managers to welcome more members of the public without restricting access to parks. It’s a win-win. I am looking forward to this bill being signed into law before peak park season next year.”
The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act increases public access to National Parks and Forests and improves collaboration between Federal agencies and gateway communities. This is a companion bill to legislation introduced by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Angus King (I-ME) in February 2023. Details of the bill are below.
The Bill:
- Createsa digital America the Beautiful National Parks and public lands pass so visitors can seamlessly access public lands.
- Establishes a pilot program to provide visitation data for recreation lands and at high congestion promote visitation to nearby lesser known, lesser visited recreation sites.
- Requires the public land management agencies to collaborate with local stakeholders to address gateway communities’ economic needs, particularly housing shortages, and infrastructural deficiencies, related to increasing visitation.
- Requires the NPS to consult local communities before restricting access to parks.
Zinke delivered a speech on the House Floor in support of the EXPLORE Act, watch an excerpt here.
Read the full text of the bill here
PRESS RELEASE PROVIDED BY CONGRESSMAN RYAN ZINKE