IB 

Union Calendar No. 774 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 1380 

[Report No. 118–749, Part I] 

To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior 

to issue guidance on climbing management in designated wilderness 

areas, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 7, 2023 

Mr. CURTIS (for himself and Mr. NEGUSE) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to 

the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined 

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

NOVEMBER 18, 2024 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

NOVEMBER 18, 2024 

Referral to the Committee on Agriculture extended for a period ending not 

later than December 19, 2024 

DECEMBER 19, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Ms. STANSBURY, Ms. LEE of Nevada, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. 

LIEU and Mr. FITZPATRICK

DECEMBER 19, 2024 

Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the 

Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 7, 2023] 


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•HR 1380 RH

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary 

of the Interior to issue guidance on climbing management in designated wilderness areas, and for other purposes. 


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•HR 1380 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting America’s 

5 Rock Climbing Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. GUIDANCE ON CLIMBING. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the 

8 date of enactment of this Act, each Secretary concerned shall 

9 issue guidance for recreational climbing activities on cov10 ered Federal land. 

11 (b) APPLICABLE LAW.—The guidance issued under 

12 subsection (a) shall ensure that recreational climbing ac13 tivities comply with the laws (including regulations) appli14 cable to the covered Federal land. 

15 (c) WILDERNESS AREAS.—The guidance issued under 

16 subsection (a) shall recognize that recreational climbing 

17 (including the use, placement, and maintenance of fixed an18 chors) is an appropriate use within a component of the Na19 tional Wilderness Preservation System, if undertaken— 

20 (1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 

21 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and other applicable laws (in22 cluding regulations); and 

23 (2) subject to any terms and conditions deter24 mined by the Secretary concerned to be appropriate. 


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•HR 1380 RH

1 (d) AUTHORIZATION.—The guidance issued under sub2 section (a) shall describe the requirements, if any, for the 

3 placement and maintenance of fixed anchors for rec4 reational climbing in a component of the National Wilder5 ness Preservation System, including any terms and condi6 tions determined by the Secretary concerned to be appro7 priate, which may be issued programmatically or on a case8 by-case basis. 

9 (e) EXISTING ROUTES.—The guidance issued under 

10 subsection (a) shall include direction providing for the con11 tinued use and maintenance of recreational climbing routes 

12 (including fixed anchors along the routes) in existence as 

13 of the date of enactment of this Act, in accordance with 

14 this Act. 

15 (f) PUBLIC COMMENT.—Before finalizing the guidance 

16 issued under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall 

17 provide opportunities for public comment with respect to 

18 the guidance. 

19 (g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

20 (1) COVERED FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘cov21 ered Federal land’’— 

22 (A) means the lands described in subpara23 graph (A) and (B) of paragraph (2); and 

24 (B) includes components of the National 

25 Wilderness Preservation System. 


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•HR 1380 RH

1 (2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec2 retary concerned’’ means— 

3 (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re4 spect to National Forest System lands; and 

5 (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re6 spect to lands under the jurisdiction of such Sec7 retary. 


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Union Calendar No. 774 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 1380 

[Report No. 118–749, Part I] 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Agriculture and the 

areas, and for other purposes. climbing management in designated wilderness Secretary of the Interior to issue guidance on 

DECEMBER 19, 2024 

Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the 

Union and ordered to be printed Committee of the Whole House on the State of the 


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