Expanding Accessibility at National Parks and on Public Lands

Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held an oversight hearing on the implementation of the accessibility framework enacted by the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The hearing examined the progress of the law's implementation as well as opportunities for future legislation. Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) issued the following statement in response:

"Our National Parks and public lands should be accessible to all Americans across the country, yet there are more than 400 of our national park units that lack accessibility for visitors with disabilities. Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands is working to expand access for all through oversight of the EXPLORE Act. I look forward to continuing to ensure this critical legislation is actively improving and expanding access across federal lands."

Background

Title II of the EXPLORE Act, known as "Access America," establishes a first-of-its-kind framework to make outdoor recreation on federal lands more accessible, navigable and inclusive for all Americans, particularly individuals with disabilities and wounded veterans and their families.

There is clear and growing demand for accessible recreation. Proven models already exist across the country, demonstrating that targeted improvements in infrastructure, information and assistive technologies can expand how individuals with disabilities access and explore national parks and public lands.

Early efforts to implement the EXPLORE Act have shown progress in planning, community engagement, interagency coordination and data collection. At the same time, outdated regulations still create confusion and needlessly limit access, revealing the need for further updates and reforms.

For more information on the hearing, click here.