The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved 12 bipartisan bills focused on various aspects of outdoor recreation, conservation, and support for tribes and territories. Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) expressed his gratitude towards his colleagues for their efforts in crafting these bills, stating, "The bills passed in the House this week represent the product of extensive bipartisan work by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and deliver commonsense solutions for Americans across the country and around the globe."

Among the bills passed, H.R. 524, introduced by U.S. Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), aims to enhance beach habitat restoration by creating an exemption to certain restrictions on federal funds. Another bill, H.R. 1246, introduced by U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), focuses on authorizing leases for land held in trust for federally recognized Indian tribes for up to 99 years.

Furthermore, H.R. 1792, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa), seeks to extend fishing access terms for U.S. vessels. Meanwhile, H.R. 1829, introduced by U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), aims to develop a retreat center for veterans by conveying a ranger district administrative site to Gila County, Arizona.

Other bills passed include H.R. 4389, H.R. 6011, H.R. 6233, H.R. 6443, H.R. 6492, S. 382, H.R. 2560, and H.R. 3250, each addressing various conservation, land management, and recreational access issues.

In his statement, Chairman Westerman thanked Speaker Johnson for bringing these bipartisan bills to the floor and expressed his eagerness to advance them to the Senate and eventually to President Biden’s desk. The diverse range of solutions presented in these bills reflects the commitment of the House in addressing the priorities of communities across the United States.