U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed several of his bipartisan outdoors bills, which will now head to the President’s desk. The bills support gateway communities, address challenges facing national parks and public lands, streamline the process for issuing special recreation permits for accessing public lands, and address housing needs in rural communities.
“I’m proud to see my bipartisan bills pass the U.S. Senate and head to the president’s desk to be signed into law. This package includes major wins for Montana’s beautiful public lands and I’ll always keep fighting for more ways to protect our outdoor way of life,” said Daines.
The following Daines bills were included in the larger “EXPLORE Act”:
“Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act”
Daines’ bipartisan “Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act” supports gateway communities and addresses challenges facing national parks and public lands like increased visitation and housing shortages, boosting visitation at lesser-known parks and recreation areas and requires a digital version of the America the Beautiful annual pass.
The bill was cosponsored by Senator Angus King in the Senate and led by Representatives Ryan Zinke and Mary Peltola in the House. Read the press release from its introduction in February 2023 HERE.
When the bill passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in May 2023,Daines said, “Montanans know how important our gateway communities are, and supporting the areas around our beautiful national parks and public lands is critical to Montana’s economy. I’ll keep working to get this bill across the finish line.”
“SOAR Act”
Daines’ bipartisan “Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act” streamlines the process for issuing special recreation permits for accessing public lands. Because Montana has a checkerboard land ownership pattern, and each federal land agency has a separet permitting process, guides and outfitters often have to go through multiple departments and permitting processes all for one trip. The “SOAR Act” helps increase access to public lands and support small businesses.
“Forest Flexible Housing Partnerships Act”
Daines’ bipartisan “Forest Flexible Housing Partnerships Act” reauthorizes a program that allows the Forest Service to lease existing underutilized administrative sites to address housing needs of rural communities.