Victory! Biden signs the EXPLORE Act
In our philosophy, UBA maintains that: “The outdoors are accessible and available for everyone to enjoy freely, imaginatively and therapeutically, unencumbered and without interference, to heal and to pursue an overall sense of health and well-being.”
The United States Congress and President Biden agree!
Last year, Congress passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which includes the Protecting America’s Rock Climbing (PARC) Act — a bipartisan act lead by Senator John R. Curtis (R-UT) and Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO). On January 4, 2025, President Biden signed the EXPLORE Act into law marking a significant milestone for outdoor recreation policy.
The EXPLORE Act includes:
The Outdoors For All Act, which authorizes the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, to help economically disadvantaged communities with limited access to public outdoor recreation spaces.
The Military and Veterans in Parks Act, which promotes opportunities and enhances outdoor recreation experiences for veterans and active duty service members on federal lands and waters.
The Every Kid Outdoors program, which provides all fourth graders and their families free access to over 2,000 federally-managed parks, lands and waters.
The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act, which simplifies and streamlines permitting processes for guides, outfitters, outdoor leaders, and nonprofit organizations.
This landmark legislation also ensures the greatest possible access for outdoor rock climbers by protecting existing routes and future opportunities for climbing exploration—including in Wilderness areas—by ensuring that responsible and judicious use, placement and maintenance of fixed anchors will remain appropriate and not prohibited in Wilderness.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement: “America’s lands and waters heal us, they bring us joy, and they connect us all. No matter how divided our country may appear, the power of nature will always prove to be a unifying force. Now, thanks to champions on both sides of the aisle, more veterans and young people across the country can experience the awesome might of nature. The EXPLORE Act will improve the quality of life for communities across the country, and we thank the champions who worked tirelessly to make this day happen.”
