U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) is working to expand public access to private lands for hunting, fishing, and other types of recreation with the recent introduction of a bill that would strengthen the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The program provides grants to states and tribal governments to incentivize private landowners to voluntarily open their lands for public use while maintaining private property rights.
“This voluntary program has proven to be successful – encouraging conservation while allowing public access,” the congressman said.
Rep. Johnson introduced the bipartisan Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 5186, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) on Aug. 11. The legislation, if enacted, would reauthorize the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program and increase the program’s funding from $50 million to $150 million over five years from fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
Expanding access to public land would stimulate local economies by supporting jobs in outdoor recreation and would also help fund assistance to landowners for wildlife habitat improvement and enhancement programs, according to a summary of the bill provided by the congressman’s office.
“I’ll work to include programs like this in the 2023 Farm Bill to ensure the tradition of outdoor recreation for future generations of South Dakotans,” Rep. Johnson said.
The House bill is identical to S. 1161, which was introduced in the Senate in March by U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).
“The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act will expand outdoor recreation opportunities nationwide, improve access to the outdoors for all Americans, and bolster critical conservation efforts,” Rep. Dingell said. “I look forward to working with my bipartisan co-lead to advance this bill through the Farm Bill process.”