REI Co-op celebrates the passage of the EXPLORE Act

REI Co-op applauds the passage of the bipartisan Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, one of the most consequential outdoor policies since 1963.  

This legislation advances how America’s public lands and recreation infrastructure are stewarded and represents a commitment to increasing opportunities for all people to enjoy time outside at a time of growing demand on our public lands. 

The EXPLORE Act tackles today's challenges by improving park infrastructure, supporting gateway communities, offsetting pressures on popular destinations, and increasing access to the outdoors for veterans, seniors, and youth. REI, along with tens of thousands of our members, countless nonprofit organizations, industry partners and outdoor advocates have together championed several provisions of the larger EXPLORE package:  

• The Outdoors For All Act creates a dedicated source of funding for parks, new trails, playgrounds, cultural gathering spaces, and more in urban and low-income communities.  

• The Military Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act builds a national strategy for Veterans and people with disabilities to enjoy more of our public lands. 

• Permanent funding of the Every Kid Outdoors Program provides a full year of free entry to hundreds of national parks, lands, and waters for all U.S. fourth graders and their families.  

• The Protecting America’s Rock Climbing (PARC) Act ensures responsible access to rock climbing in designated wilderness areas.  

• The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act updates recreational permitting for outfitters and guides that take people out to experience America’s iconic public lands. 

• The Biking on Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act will improve long-distance biking on key federal lands across the U.S. 

We invite our community to thank members of Congress for passing the EXPLORE Act through the Cooperative Action Network and we look forward to President Biden signing it into law. 

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