Outdoor Recreation Champions Celebrate EXPLORE Act’s One-Year Anniversary, House Subcommittee To Host Hearing

The House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold an oversight hearing on the EXPLORE Act tomorrow, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. 

This milestone legislation, which coincides with the United States’ 250th anniversary, reflects the advocacy efforts of the RV Industry Association, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), and industry partners. By championing policies that expand access and transform outdoor recreation spaces, the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy continues to grow. This first-of-its-kind legislation improved access and transformed outdoor recreation experiences across the country.

In 2026, the United States’ semi quincentennial year, more Americans than ever will explore the abundant opportunities that national parks and public lands provide to go RVing, camping, fishing, and hiking, among other activities. Additionally, This positions the country’s national parks and public lands for increased visitation during the nation’s 250th anniversary, a milestone Go RVing is celebrating with its RV-2-50 campaign.

This achievement builds directly on the legacy of the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, a landmark moment for our nation’s public lands and waters. Federal land management agencies have already begun implementing the EXPLORE Act. By streamlining recreation permitting, improving efficiency for recreation service providers, and modernizing technology to improve visitor services, the EXPLORE Act continues to deliver wins for small businesses and rural, gateway economies. 

The RV industry— a $140 billion economic engine— stands to benefit greatly from these improved outdoor spaces, inviting more consumers to experience the freedom of RV travel. Crucially, this legislation will help to future-proof the RV sector by ensuring that the country’s public lands and waters remain accessible and modernized. 

The EXPLORE Act is set to deliver the following: 

• Grow rural jobs;
• Increase access to public lands;
• Ensure more Americans can enjoy the many physical and mental health benefits of an active outdoor lifestyle;
• Provide gateway communities assistance for outdoor recreation businesses;
• Responsibly extend federal land shoulder seasons to spread out demand and create more RV camping opportunities;
• Establish partnership agreements to sustainably modernize campgrounds on federal lands, where appropriate; and
• Bring much-needed broadband/Wi-Fi to front country campgrounds to address safety issues and provide technologies that park visitors expect.

The RV Industry Association thanks Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Leader Mitch McConnell (R-AL), Former Chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV), Former Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04), and the late Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-03) for their leadership and support for the EXPLORE Act. The legislation was signed into law on Saturday, January 4th, 2025.

Learn more about the EXPLORE Act.