What is the EXPLORE Act?

The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE) Act would expand public land access by supporting recreation opportunities, addressing access barriers for veterans and people with disabilities, streamlining the permitting process for small businesses, and more. The EXPLORE Act also resonates with the mission of the inclusive recreation movement across the industry dedicated to making the outdoors a welcoming space for everyone. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance access to outdoor recreation across the United States, benefiting all Americans, particularly those in underserved communities and with disabilities. The Act’s passage would modernize policies and support the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy, which sustains five million jobs nationwide.
 

How will the EXPLORE Act benefit OHI members?
 

75% of private RV parks and campgrounds are within 25 miles of public lands, so increasing access to public lands will increase occupancy at these outdoor hospitality businesses and consumer spending in the gateway communities.

On June 17, 2024, OHI joined the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, and 250 outdoor businesses and organizations calling on the Senate to pass the EXPLORE Act. The letter is below: 

United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 

Dear Members of the United States Senate: 

As businesses and organizations across the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation industry, we strongly urge the U.S. Senate to pass the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act this month. This historic legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives by unanimous consent in April, as an almost identical version out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by unanimous consent twice and is supported by a large and diverse coalition of recreation organizations covering all outdoor activities, including industry associations and hundreds of American outdoor businesses that span the outdoor recreation economy.

The EXPLORE Act would support rural economies, communities, and our American quality of life. It streamlines efficiencies and updates processes that are critical to 5 million American jobs and over half of all Americans who get outdoors. This bipartisan legislation would appropriately meet the increased demand for access to the outdoors while also protecting public lands and waters for future use.

During Great Outdoors Month®, advancing the EXPLORE Act in the Senate would represent a landmark achievement, garnering widespread support from the most diverse cross-section of the outdoor sector, including motorized and non-motorized recreation, sportsmen and women, conservationists, economic development advocates, and state and local leaders across the country. Importantly, the legislation focuses on not just the 145 million Americans currently benefiting from outdoor recreation, but the millions without access and ensures equity so everyone can reap the health, social, and environmental benefits that time outside supports.

This EXPLORE Act would revolutionize the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy and pave the way for its continued growth. It will transform how Americans access and enjoy their public lands and waters by streamlining permitting processes to ease burdens on outfitters and guides, improving access to recreational opportunities, ensuring access to green spaces in underserved communities, developing and completing long-range trails, and investing in rural communities.

This bill results from the hard work of Chairman Joe Manchin, Ranking Member John Barrasso, and many U.S. Senators whose bills are included, communities across the nation, and outdoor recreation businesses and stakeholders over many years.

The American outdoor recreation business, conservation, and user community is eager for the Senate to pass this bipartisan and bicameral legislation. We have waited decades for some of these provisions to become law and without this important legislation, antiquated policies remain a risk to our industry and those seeking to experience the outdoors. We strongly urge you to pass this comprehensive piece of legislation that meets the growing demand for outdoor access while also protecting public lands and waters for future generations.

Thank you for your leadership and for supporting a sustainable and growing outdoor recreation economy for the benefit of all Americans.

Sincerely, 

3Rivers Archery 
AAM's Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Tours 
Access Fund 
Adventure Sports 
Aftco 
AllTrails 
Alpenglow Expeditions 
Alpine Ascents International 
Alpine Endeavors 
America Outdoors Association 
American Alpine Institute 
American Conservation Coalition Action 
American Fly Fishing Trade Association 
American Forest Foundation 
American Hiking Society 
American Honda Motor Co Inc. 
American Horse Council Inc 
American Land & Leisure 
American Mountain Guides Association 
American Prairie 
American Sportfishing Association 
Angler Action Foundation 
Appalachian Trail Conservancy 
Archer's Advantage, LLC 
Archery Only Inc, 
Archery Trade Association 
ArcherySTL 
Arizona Archery Enterprises 
Arizona State University 
Arizona Trail Association 
Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation 
Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education 
Back Country Horsemen of Texas 
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers 
Bar 10 Ranch INC 
Bearcub Outfitters 
Bearfoot Theory 
Bellfree Contractors 
Bewilder 
Bicycle Adventures Inc 
BMW Motorrad USA 
Bowtreader, LLC 
Brunswick Corporation 
Buck & Doe's Mercantile 
Cabot Archery, LLC 
California Mountain Biking Coalition 
California Outdoor Recreation Partnership 
CalWild 
Canyon Enterprises, Inc 
Cascade Raft and Kayak 
Catch-A-Dream Foundation 
Central Cascades Recreation Association 
Chinook Landscape Architecture 
Choose Outdoors 
CLEAR TRAILS 
CLWW LLC. DBA WET River Trips 
COBB Trucks 
Coleman PowerSports 
Colorado Mountain Bike Association 
Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office 
Community Land Shepherds 
Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association 
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation 
Corner Archery LLC 
Correct Craft Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (CAHSS) 
D|G Studios Inc. 
Dallas Safari Club 
Dealernews 
Dewclaw Archery 
Dixie 4 Wheel Drive 
Dude Ranchers' Association 
Easton Technical Products, Inc. 
Eddyline Kayaks 
Embracing the Bear Consulting 
Enchanted Circle Trails Association 
eOutdoors, Inc./ TackleDirect 
Equionx Guiding Service 
Erin Keeley Consulting 
Evergreen Escapes, LLC 
ExploreUS 
FeraDyne Outdoors 
Fluid Motion 
Fly Fishers International 
ForeverGreen Trails 
Formula Boats 
Foundation for America's Public Lands 
Foundation Outdoor Group 
Franklin Gun Shop, Inc. 
Fredericktown Yamaha 
Freeflow Outdoors 
Friends of Grand Rapids Park 
Glacier Guides and Montana Raft 
Gold Arrow Camp 
Grady-White Boats 
Great Lakes Boat Building School 
Guy Harvey Foundation 
H2O Sportz & Marine 
Harley-Davidson of Washington DC 
Headhunter Bow Strings 
Helfrich River Outfitters 
Hillview Motorsports 
Hipcamp 
Hoyt Archery 
Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association 
Intentional Hiking 
International Mountain Bicycling Association 
International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association 
Izaak Walton League of America 
Jas. D. Easton, Inc. 
JB Outdoors, LLC 
Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics 
Kai Creative LLC 
Kampgrounds of America, Inc. 
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. 
Kay-Linn Enterprises 
Kentucky Association for Economic Development 
KTM North America / USA 
Kureha America, Inc. 
Latino Outdoors 
Legacy Trails LLC 
Life Expanding Adventure Program 
Maine Trails Coalition 
Maxima USA 
Motorcycle Industry Council 
Mountain Camp 
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust 
National Association of Counties 
National Association of Development Organizations 
National Bobwhite & Grassland Initiative 
National Deer Association 
National Forest Recreation Association 
National Marine Manufacturers Association 
National Park Hospitality Association 
National Shooting Sports Foundation 
National Wild Turkey Federation 
National Wildlife Federation 
Naventure 
NEMO Equipment, Inc. 
Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation 
Nevada Outdoor School 
New England Outdoor Center 
New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division 
New York State Conservation Council 
Newell Community Improvement Coalition 
Northland Fishing Tackle 
NTR Inc 
Oakridge Trails Alliance 
OARS 
Okuma Fishing Tackle 
Oregon Trails Coalition 
Orvis 
Outdoor Alliance 
Outdoor Hospitality Industry 
Outdoor Industry Association 
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable 
Outdoorsy Group 
Outfitter 
Owner American Corporation 
Palouse Land Trust 
Partnership for the National Trails System 
Payette Powder Guides 
Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society 
PeopleForBikes 
Pheasants Forever 
Pineland Farms' VAST (Veterans Adaptive Sports & Training) Program 
Pitman Creek Wholesale LLC 
Planet Earth Adventures 
Professional Outfitters and Guides of America 
Professional TrailBuilders Association 
Progressive Suspension 
ProMaster Archery 
Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) 
Protect Our Winters 
Quail Forever 
Queen City Harley-Davidson 
Rails To Trails Conservancy 
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association 
REI Co-op 
Rendezvous River Sports 
River & Trail Outfitters 
Roam and Board 
Rocktown Adventures 
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 
Roeser Livestock and Equipment Rentals 
ROW Adventures 
RV Industry Association 
RVshare 
Safari Club International 
Samsel Supply 
San Diego Mountain Biking Association 
San Luis Valley Great Outdoors 
Sappington Pro Outdoor 
Sardine Lake Resort 
Send Bars 
Severson Dells Nature Center 
Shooters Range LLC 
Sierra Club 
Sitka Trail Works 
Smith River Alliance 
Social Circle Ace Archery 
Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals 
Solitude River Trips 
Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association 
Southwest Superbikes, Inc. 
Sparkle Travel and RV Services 
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) 
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America 
Sports & Fitness Industry Association 
Surfrider Foundation 
Sweet Life Gens 
Teaneck Creek Conservancy 
Temple Fork Outfitters 
The Adventure Hub / Bicycle Adventures 
The Conservation Alliance 
The Corps Network 
The Great Outdoors Fund 
The Mountaineers 
The Shop Magazine 
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership 
THOR Industries Inc 
Tiara Yachts 
Tim Calhoun Powersports Consulting 
Tony Boone Trails 
Trails Inspire, LLC 
Trails Unlimited SCorp. 
Travel Lane County 
Trout Unlimited 
TTI-Blakemore Fishing 
Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation 
Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance 
Vance & Hines 
VF Corporation 
Virginia Lakes Resort 
Visit Sun Valley 
Vista Recreation 
Vroom Network 
Waterstone Outdoors 
Whidbey Island Kayaking 
Whitetails Unlimited 
Wildlife Forever 
Wildlife Management Institute 
Willamette Valley Visitors Association 
Winnebago Industries 
Winter Wildlands Alliance 
Wired2Fish 
Woods Cycle Country 
World Wide River Expeditions 
Wounded Warrior Project 
Xperience Communications 
Yakima Bait Co. 
YMCA of Greater Seattle 
Yosemite Trails Horseback Adventures 
Z-Man Fishing Products, Inc.