Zinke’s Bipartisan Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act Passes House Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced the passage of H.R. 6492, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, 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 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 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:

• Creates a 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.

“It’s wonderful that more Americans are getting outside to enjoy a trail or river, but the increased visitation unfortunately causes some growing pains. The Gateway Communities and Recreation Enhancement Act seeks to solve some of these problems by bringing federal and local stakeholders to the table to collaborate on access and opportunities,” said Rep. Zinke. “Additionally, 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.”

Rep. Peltola, said, “National parks are important to Alaska and are deeply connected to local economies. This legislation will provide additional opportunities for local communities to benefit from and engage in decision-making about their local park economies. It will also encourage more people to visit our national parks as digital passes become more and more a norm in everyday life. I am happy to co-lead this bill — and hope it will help to lift up the communities that support America’s national parks.”

Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Rep. Bruce Westerman said, “The inclusion of the Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act in the EXPLORE Act will promote responsible outdoor recreation management by allowing partnerships between local communities and the federal government to support our gateway communities. As the representative for part of Yellowstone National Park, one of the most popular and frequented parks in the country, Congressman Zinke knows firsthand how important this type of public-private partnership is for the state of Montana and states across the West. I thank him for his efforts and look forward to working alongside him to help pass the EXPLORE Act into law.”

Before the legislation passed, Zinke delivered a speech on the House Floor in support of the EXPLORE Act, watch an excerpt here.

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