Us Congress Senate Bill SB784

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/14/23
• Refer: 3/14/23

Caption

A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on the effects of special recreation permits on environmental justice communities, and for other purposes.

Impact

The proposed legislation represents a proactive effort to gather data that could inform policies aimed at improving access to public lands for marginalized communities. By requiring an estimate of recreation days and existing policies that affect these communities, the report will likely influence future regulations and programs. The findings could lead to enhancing equity in access to recreational areas and resources, thus directly impacting state laws and federal policies governing land use and recreation.

Summary

SB784 mandates the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to produce an interagency report assessing the impacts of special recreation permits on environmental justice communities. The bill specifically aims to highlight the usage of these permits by recreation service providers that serve diverse communities, particularly those that are low-income, tribal, or represent significant populations of color. This initiative acknowledges the disparities faced by these communities regarding access to recreational resources and seeks to facilitate better opportunities for their engagement with federal recreational lands.

Contention

While the bill seeks to benefit environmental justice communities, there may be varying perspectives on how this is achieved. Some advocacy groups may argue about the adequacy of the proposed measures, questioning the scope of the report and its subsequent recommendations. The necessity for voluntary participation from service providers raises concerns regarding the comprehensiveness of the data collected. Moreover, while some stakeholders may welcome increased access and equity, others may fear potential regulatory burdens or conflicts with existing land management policies.