Time is running out: Tell the Senate to pass this bill ASAP to improve outdoor access!

The Senate has the opportunity to pass an outdoor recreation package. They could pass the House’s Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which has impactful provisions for outdoor accessibility. The bipartisan EXPLORE Act could mean a comprehensive set of measures aimed at promoting equity, inclusion, and expanded access to the outdoors for all Americans.

Here are some highlights that the EXPLORE Act would make possible:

The Outdoors for All Act would provide funding for outdoor recreation sites in economically disadvantaged communities.
The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act would simplify and streamline permitting processes for guides, outfitters, outdoor leaders and nonprofit organizations.
The Military and Veterans in Parks Act would promote opportunities and enhance outdoor recreation experiences for veterans and active duty members on federal lands and water by improving disability access, increasing awareness of and access to assistive technology, and including a jobs pilot program for veterans at the Department of the Interior.
The Every Kid Outdoors program provides all 4th graders and their families free access to over 2,000 federally-managed parks, lands and waters.

There is no time to waste – this legislation package would improve the lives of young people, families, veterans, and people across many communities. Personalize your comment for the biggest impact!

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Here are some highlights that the EXPLORE Act would make possible:

-  The Outdoors for All Act would provide funding for outdoor recreation sites in economically disadvantaged communities through the Outdoors Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program.
-  The extension of the Every Kid Outdoors program, which grants 4th graders and their families free access to federal public lands and waters, would allow more generations of children and families to get that early exposure to expansive nature.
-  The Military and Veterans in Parks Act. These provisions would make the outdoors more accessible to veterans and the military community.
-  The Environmental Justice in Recreational Permitting Act would help expand access to outdoor recreation for environmental justice communities by first completing a report on permitting, policies, barriers, successful case studies, and recommendations relating to public lands recreation access for EJ communities.
- The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act would simplify and streamline permitting processes for guides, outfitters, outdoor leaders and nonprofit organizations. This would reduce barriers that communities and organizations can face in organizing outdoor excursions and facilitating access to nature.

As communities across our country see increased levels of anxiety and depression, it’s critical we provide the tools and resources needed to effectively mitigate this worsening mental health crisis in addition to providing opportunities for communities to experience the physical health benefits of time outdoors. Passing the EXPLORE Act is a step towards achieving that.

Please support children, families and healthy communities by bringing the EXPLORE Act to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.

The outdoor recreation package “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act” is legislation that would provide outdoor access for kids, veterans and communities across the country. There are many wonderful aspects of the bills that would significantly improve access to nature for your constituents, like access to outdoor activities, safe green spaces, and improving existing outdoor recreation sites. Here are some highlights that the EXPLORE Act would make possible: - The Outdoors for All Act would provide funding for outdoor recreation sites in economically disadvantaged communities through the Outdoors Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program. - The extension of the Every Kid Outdoors program, which grants 4th graders and their families free access to federal public lands and waters, would allow more generations of children and families to get that early exposure to expansive nature. - The Military and Veterans in Parks Act. These provisions would make the outdoors more accessible to veterans and the military community. - The Environmental Justice in Recreational Permitting Act would help expand access to outdoor recreation for environmental justice communities by first completing a report on permitting, policies, barriers, successful case studies, and recommendations relating to public lands recreation access for EJ communities. - The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act would simplify and streamline permitting processes for guides, outfitters, outdoor leaders and nonprofit organizations. This would reduce barriers that communities and organizations can face in organizing outdoor excursions and facilitating access to nature. As communities across our country see increased levels of anxiety and depression, it’s critical we provide the tools and resources needed to effectively mitigate this worsening mental health crisis in addition to providing opportunities for communities to experience the physical health benefits of time outdoors. Passing the EXPLORE Act is a step towards achieving that. Please support children, families and healthy communities by bringing the EXPLORE Act to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.

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