In Final Days, Congress Sends Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation Legislation to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. — North American’s leading public lands advocacy group, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), celebrates the advancement of two bills passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate last week following their passage by the House of Representatives earlier this year – the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act (S. 3791) and Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act (H.R. 6492). 

“Hunters and anglers across the nation share our appreciation for the tremendous bipartisan effort to prioritize conservation and public access before the close of the 118th Congress,” said Kaden McArthur, BHA Director of Policy and Government Relations. “Conservation of fish and wildlife habitat, and access to our public lands and waters, are the foundation of our pursuits. As these two bills are signed into law, we will have taken critical steps to ensure that future generations can experience the same opportunities to hunt, fish and recreate that we enjoy today.” 

Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Programs Extended 

The ACE Reauthorization Act will continue through 2030 programs passed in the ACE Act in 2020 that benefit hunters and anglers across North America, including: 

• The North American Wetlands Conservation Act, a competitive grant program that has conserved more than 32 million acres of waterfowl habitat. 
• The Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Task Force, which is charged with an action plan for state and federal cooperation in managing CWD. One of the single greatest threats to wild deer and other cervids, CWD is always fatal and cannot be detected in live animals. 
• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the United States’ largest grant-maker for the conservation of fish and wildlife habitat. 
• The Chesapeake Bay Program, Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act, and the Chesapeake WILD grant program. Each of these assists in the conservation of this ecosystem through habitat restoration and improving water quality. 

This legislation was sponsored by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). Companion legislation was sponsored by Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA). 

Outdoor Recreation Opportunities Improved 

The EXPLORE Act will make changes to outdoor recreation management that benefit our public lands and waters, in addition to expanding access and opportunity for sportsmen and women, to include: 

• Expediting and simplifying permitting for accessing public lands and waters, which would reduce costs, wait times, and “red tape” by creating a uniform permitting process; and eliminating fees and permits for small groups filming on public lands. 
• Improving outdoor recreation data and infrastructure, including updating vehicle-use maps on public lands within five years, and requiring their continued updates within twenty years. 
• Creating feeless public shooting ranges in each Bureau of Land Management district or national forest, offering more opportunities for individuals to prepare for hunting seasons. In addition to establishing appropriate and accessible facilities for safe shooting, this would help to consolidate recreational shooting taking place on our public lands and resulting litter. 
• Authorizing the donation of hides, horns, and antlers harvested from wildlife management activities within the National Park System to the hunter. This would avoid the waste of wildlife and fully respect harvested animals. 
• Establishing a grant program for the inspection and decontamination of watercraft to avoid the spread of aquatic invasive species, while allowing federal agencies to carry out those activities. 

This legislation was sponsored by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ). Similar legislation first introduced in the 117th Congress, the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act, was sponsored by Senate Energy and Natural Resorces Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY). 

Both the ACE Reauthorization Act and the EXPLORE Act – which are expected to be signed into law by the president – represent a significant win for hunters, anglers, and all who cherish the outdoors. These legislative victories reinforce the importance of bipartisan collaboration in protecting and enhancing our wild public lands, waters, and wildlife. BHA will continue to champion these shared values and work tirelessly to ensure that future generations can enjoy the unparalleled opportunities offered by our wild places. 

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers seeks to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife. To learn more about issues important to BHA’s membership, and to become a member today, visit www.backcountryhunters.org/our_issues.