Rep. Neguse Applauds Passage in House of Key Initiatives to Support Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Economy

April 11, 2024

Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands, passed several bills through the House of Representatives to help bolster Colorado’s robust and thriving outdoor recreation economy and workforce, and improve recreation opportunities. Those bills include the Improving Access to Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act, the Biking On Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act, and the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act. Notably, the package also includes the Simplifying Access for Outdoor Recreation Permitting (SOAR) Act, which Rep. Neguse is proud to co-lead.

The bills passed as part of the bipartisan, bicameral Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive legislative package designed to improve access and transform outdoor recreation opportunities on America’s public lands and waters. The bill will support our nation’s thriving outdoor recreation economy which supports nearly 5 million jobs annually and an annual gross economic output of $1.1 trillion.

“Colorado’s public lands and outdoor recreation opportunities are vital to our local economies and to our state’s overall wellbeing. From ensuring housing for the local workforce in our mountain communities to better facilitating residents’ enjoyment of the great outdoors, these bills expand and support the outdoor recreation industry in Colorado and beyond. I am proud to have advanced these bills through the House of Representatives and will continue to push for their swift enactment,” said Assistant Leader Neguse.

As the Representative for a congressional district that is nearly 60% public lands, Congressman Neguse has made bolstering access to the outdoors and protecting these treasured spaces a top priority for his office. Additional information on the bills Rep. Neguse successfully advanced as part of the EXPLORE Act include:

The Improving Access to Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act – To establish the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation which would coordinate outdoor recreation policies among the various land management agencies. The bill aims to streamline processes across federal agencies to bolster recreation on public lands.
The Biking On Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act – To expand outdoor recreation opportunities by identifying potential long-distance bike trails and bolstering mapping resources for long-distance bikers. View a one-pager on the bill HERE and quotes of support HERE.
The Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act – To help address the housing shortage in rural and mountain communities by strengthening the authority of the United States Forest Service (USFS) to lease underutilized administrative sites to address local needs, including for building affordable housing. The bill is supported by Summit County, Grand County, Eagle County, Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST), and Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG). View a one-pager on the bill HERE and quotes of support HERE.
The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act – To simplify the permitting process for outdoor guides, outfitters, education organizations, and college and university programs.

“The International Mountain Bicycling Association is thrilled the House of Representatives understands the physical, mental, and economic importance of outdoor recreation on our public lands, evidenced by the passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act,” said Todd Keller, Director of Government Affairs, International Mountain Bicycling Association. “The mountain bike community is specifically excited about the Biking on Long Distance Trails (BOLT) Act that has been included within the text of the underlying bill. The BOLT Act will identify at least 10 existing long-distance bike trails and identify at least 10 areas where there is opportunity to develop or complete such trails. The bill will also direct the Department of Interior to publish and distribute maps, install signage, and distribute promotional materials.”

The EXPLORE Act was carefully crafted by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to: improve and modernize visitor experiences at recreation sites, streamline permitting processes and reduce burdensome fees for small businesses that depend on reliable access to public lands, address park overcrowding, support gateway communities by addressing housing shortages, parking and infrastructure issues, and transform accessibility for individuals with disabilities by creating new accessible trails and recreation opportunities across America’s public lands.

Background

In the 117th Congress, Congressman Joe Neguse served as Chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. Rep. Neguse worked to advance a bold and comprehensive agenda to protect America’s public lands. As a result, he successfully enacted several historic pieces of legislation in the 117th Congress, including the Amache National Historic Site Act and the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Recovery Act. He is also responsible for successfully passing the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act through the House five times – his work in pursuing this bill culminated in President Biden’s designation of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument.

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