H.R. 6492 · 118th Congress

EXPLORE Act

Introduced on Nov 29, 2023 by Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4). 51 cosponsors, 27 of them from another party. Became Public Law 118-234.

Stage
Became law
Public Law 118-234
Introduced
Nov 29, 2023
Cosponsors
51
27 from the other party
Policy area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Open in the Congress explorerCongress.govAlert me

Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Sent to the President
  6. Became law

Official title

To improve recreation opportunities on, and facilitate greater access to, Federal public land, and for other purposes.

Subjects

  • Advisory bodies
  • Aquatic ecology
  • Congressional oversight
  • Digital media
  • Disability and health-based discrimination
  • Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
  • Firearms and explosives
  • Geography and mapping
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Housing and community development funding
  • Intergovernmental relations
  • Internet, web applications, social media
  • Land use and conservation
  • Licensing and registrations
  • Marine and inland water transportation
  • Motor vehicles
  • Outdoor recreation
  • Parks, recreation areas, trails
  • Pedestrians and bicycling
  • Photography and imaging
  • Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
  • Sports and recreation facilities
  • Telephone and wireless communication
  • User charges and fees
  • Veterans' medical care
  • Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Summary

The Congressional Research Service has not summarized this measure yet.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Bruce WestermanR-AR-4Sponsor

Democrats · 27

Republicans · 24

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

No recorded roll call on this measure: it moved by voice vote or unanimous consent, or has not reached the floor.

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Nov 29, 2023Introduced in House
  2. Nov 29, 2023Introduced in House
  3. Nov 29, 2023 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  4. Nov 29, 2023 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  5. Nov 29, 2023 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  6. Nov 30, 2023 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
  7. Nov 30, 2023 · HouseSubcommittee Hearings Held
  8. Jan 17, 2024 · HouseSubcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
  9. Jan 17, 2024 · HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  10. Jan 17, 2024 · HouseOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
  11. Jan 24, 2024 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
  12. Jan 24, 2024 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.
  13. Apr 5, 2024Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-441, Part I.
  14. Apr 5, 2024 · HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-441, Part I.
  15. Apr 5, 2024Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.
  16. Apr 5, 2024 · HouseCommittee on Veterans' Affairs discharged.
  17. Apr 5, 2024Committee on Agriculture discharged.
  18. Apr 5, 2024 · HouseCommittee on Agriculture discharged.
  19. Apr 5, 2024 · HousePlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 365.
  20. Apr 9, 2024 · HouseMr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  21. Apr 9, 2024 · HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2162-2189)
  22. Apr 9, 2024 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6492.
  23. Apr 9, 2024Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2162-2184)
  24. Apr 9, 2024 · HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2162-2184)
  25. Apr 9, 2024 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  26. Apr 10, 2024 · SenateReceived in the Senate, read twice.
  27. Dec 19, 2024Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  28. Dec 19, 2024 · SenatePassed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7205-7214)
  29. Dec 20, 2024 · SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  30. Dec 27, 2024Presented to President.
  31. Dec 27, 2024 · HousePresented to President.
  32. Jan 4, 2025Signed by President.
  33. Jan 4, 2025Signed by President.
  34. Jan 4, 2025Became Public Law No: 118-234.
  35. Jan 4, 2025Became Public Law No: 118-234.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Who lobbied on it

Organizations whose lobbying reports (LD-2) name this measure. Spending is what they reported for those quarters on all issues, not on this measure alone.

  1. Open Space Institute, Inc.14 reports
    $500K reported (all issues)
  2. KABOOM!10 reports
    $250K reported (all issues)
  3. SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION8 reports
    $1.6M reported (all issues)
  4. The Trust for Public Land8 reports
    $45K reported (all issues)
  5. AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION5 reports
    $210K reported (all issues)
  6. America Outdoors Association5 reports
    $20K reported (all issues)
  7. American Society of Civil Engineers5 reports
    $1.1M reported (all issues)Federal contractor: AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS$360.6K in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  8. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers5 reports
    $50K reported (all issues)
  9. INFORMS5 reports
    $120K reported (all issues)
  10. MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY COUNCIL5 reports
    $224K reported (all issues)
  11. NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION5 reports
    $1.5M reported (all issues)
  12. National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers5 reports
    $30K reported (all issues)
  13. National Association of State Park Directors5 reports
    $30K reported (all issues)
  14. National Parks Conservation Association5 reports
    $867.1K reported (all issues)
  15. Outdoor Industry Associaiton5 reports
    $350K reported (all issues)
  16. Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association5 reports
    $100K reported (all issues)
  17. Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, Inc.5 reports
    $400K reported (all issues)
  18. Recreational Equipment, Inc.5 reports
    $200K reported (all issues)
  19. SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (SEMCOG)5 reports
    $50K reported (all issues)
  20. Sierra Club5 reports
    $970K reported (all issues)
  21. The Conservation Alliance5 reports
    $53K reported (all issues)
  22. Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership5 reports
    $500K reported (all issues)
  23. APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY4 reports
    $45K reported (all issues)
  24. American Association for Justice4 reports
    $4.9M reported (all issues)
  25. American Heart Association4 reports
    $1.4M reported (all issues)Federal contractor: AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, INC.$333.7K in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  26. Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural Engineering Svc4 reports
  27. DALLAS SAFARI CLUB4 reports
    $200K reported (all issues)
  28. NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION4 reports
  29. NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION, INC.4 reports
    $7M reported (all issues)
  30. NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS INC4 reports
    $72K reported (all issues)
  31. PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA4 reports
    $324.2K reported (all issues)
  32. The Wilderness Society4 reports
    $40K reported (all issues)
  33. U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION4 reports
    $3.8M reported (all issues)
  34. DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS3 reports
    $475.9K reported (all issues)
  35. SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER3 reports
    $540K reported (all issues)
  36. Strava Inc.3 reports
    $140K reported (all issues)
  37. Wounded Warrior Project3 reports
    $323K reported (all issues)
  38. Military Officers Association of America2 reports
    $1.1M reported (all issues)
  39. POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC2 reports
    $640K reported (all issues)
  40. Office of the Governor, State of Colorado1 report
    $60K reported (all issues)

Reports filed in 2023, 2024.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 6, 2026 · loaded Oct 6, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 6, 2026 · loaded Oct 6, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.
  • Money and votes are shown side by side; neither explains the other.