June 17, 2024
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
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.