House Natural Resources Committee Unanimously Passes Congressman Blake Moore's Legislation to Improve Recreation Access to Federal Waterways

House Natural Resources Committee Unanimously Passes Congressman Blake Moore's Legislation to Improve Recreation Access to Federal Waterways

WASHINGTON - The House Natural Resources Committee passed Congressman Blake Moore's Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters (MAPWaters) Act by unanimous consent. This bipartisan piece of legislation will enhance access to the nation's outdoor recreational opportunities by digitizing and standardizing mapping information, such as access points and permissible uses, of federal waters. Congressman Moore was joined by Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) in introducing this legislation. Senators Barrasso (R-WY) and King (D-ME) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

"The House Natural Resources Committee's passage of my MAPWaters Act is a step in the right direction toward enhancing access to our beautiful waterways for visitors to enjoy for years to come," said Congressman Blake Moore. "This bill will modernize water access data and open the door to more public and private sector cooperation so outdoor enthusiasts can have the tools they need to better recreate on federal waters. I am grateful to the House Natural Resources Committee for their overwhelming support of this bill, and I especially appreciate Chairman Bruce Westerman's guidance in moving this bill through the legislation process."

"The House Committee on Natural Resources has always championed legislation that helps improve opportunities for outdoor recreation," said Chairman Westerman. "Given his famously beautiful home state of Utah, Congressman Moore knows how important it is for Americans to enjoy the great outdoors. His work on the MAP Waters Act will help standardize crucial mapping information and promote outdoor recreation opportunities across our federal waters."

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.

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