Skip to Content
Statement from Trust for Public Land on the U.S. House of Representatives Passage of the Outdoors for All Act
Washington D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Outdoors for All Act [O4A Act], the bill is included in the bipartisan package of outdoor recreation related bills, EXPLORE Act.
Trust for Public Land’s Chief Impact Officer, Luis Benitez issued the following statement upon the House of Representative’s vote to approval of the Outdoors for All Act:
“Trust for Public Land commends the House of Representatives for passing the Outdoors for All Act as part of the bipartisan EXPLORE ACT. This legislation is of critical importance in addressing the severe park access gap affecting 100 million Americans, including 28 million children. Access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need, and parks are not mere amenities but essential public infrastructure crucial for fostering healthier, more connected communities. Today’s vote was a significant step toward achieving equitable outdoor recreation opportunities for all communities across the country.
Trust for Public Land thanks Rep. Michael Turner and a special thanks to Rep. Nanette Barragan for her leadership on Outdoors for All. Rep. Barragan co-sponsored the original legislation and has shepherded it through the House – she is a true trailblazer for the creation of parks for the communities that can benefit the most.”
As part of TPL’s “Day on the Hill” efforts in 2024, TPL will honor four conservation leaders next week with awards including Representative Nannette Barragan from California for their longstanding commitment and lifelong contributions advancing successful policy, advocacy, and conservation efforts that connect everyone to the outdoors.
Earlier this year, Luis Benitez, Trust for Public Land’s Chief Impact Officer testified before the Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Committee on Natural Resources to voice Trust for Public Land’s [TPL] support for the Outdoors for All Act which is included as part of the EXPLORE Act package. Benitez applauded the bipartisan leadership demonstrated by both the House and Senate in support of the Outdoors for All Act [O4A Act] and emphasized its critical importance in addressing the park access gap.
The Outdoors for All Act would codify the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant program, a nationally competitive federal grant program, through the National Park Service, that provides funding for new or significantly improved parks and recreation spaces in economically disadvantaged communities with few parks and little to no access to public outdoor recreation spaces. TPL was a leader in the creation of the ORLP program and has advocated for increased funding for the ORLP program over the last several years. Nine years ago, TPL worked with Congress to create the program and has worked with the National Park Service and communities across America since then to leverage ORLP resources to build new or improved parks for people who can benefit the most.
###
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org
