House Passes Congressman Blake Moore’s Legislation to Improve Recreation Access to Federal Waterways
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Blake Moore’s Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters (MAPWaters) Act passed the House of Representatives by a voice vote. This bipartisan bill will improve the standardization, consolidation, and availability of data related to public use of federal waterways and provide outdoor recreationalists the most up-to-date information when exploring the many natural wonders throughout Utah and across the country.
“Our federal waterways are an integral part of our nation’s natural beauty, and it’s imperative that recreationalists are given the information they need to explore our waterways safely and legally,” said Congressman Moore. “The MAPWaters Act will ensure outdoor enthusiasts know how to access federal waterways while staying updated on changing rules and restrictions. This bill modernizes the ways we share mapping and access data for federal waterways and promotes sustainable access to preserve our natural resources for future generations. I thank my colleagues for their support of this bill!”
“The MAPWaters Act will help standardize crucial mapping information and promote outdoor recreation opportunities across our federal waters,” said House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman. “This information will improve opportunities for outdoor recreation and help all Americans access our great outdoors. I thank Congressman Moore for his work to get this bill across the finish line.”
The Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act includes key provisions, including:
- Requiring the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to develop interagency standards for data collection and dissemination related to federal waterways and fishing restrictions within 30 days of enactment; and
- Requiring the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to publish online Geographic Information System data on federal waterways and fishing restrictions within four years.
Watch Congressman Moore’s remarks on the House Floor here:
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