To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on the effects of special recreation permits on environmental justice communities, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-8401
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1]
Introduced: 2020-09-25
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Environmental health

Forests, forestry, trees

Land use and conservation

Licensing and registrations

Outdoor recreation

Parks, recreation areas, trails

Poverty and welfare assistance

Racial and ethnic relations

User charges and fees
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-25
text: 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.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on the use of special recreation permits by recreation service providers serving environmental justice communities. </p> <p>The bill defines an <i><i>environmental justice community</i></i> as a community with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects than other communities.</p> <p>Interior and USDA (1) shall contact all current or prospective special recreation providers to request a voluntary estimation of how many user days are used by individuals from environmental justice communities; (2) shall request from recreational service providers and interested members of the public any other information that supports the reporting requirements in this bill; and (3) shall not use participation or information provided as a condition in approving or rejecting a special recreation permit.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8401 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 25, 2020 Ms. Haaland (for herself, Ms. Meng , Ms. Barragán , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois , and Ms. Tlaib ) 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 A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on the effects of special recreation permits on environmental justice communities, and for other purposes.

1. Interagency report on special recreation permits benefits to environmental justice communities (a) In general Not later than 3 years following the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate on the following: (1) Estimated use of special recreation permits by recreation service providers serving environmental justice communities. (2) Any national, regional, State, local, or site-specific policies, including those required under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act ( 16 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.) that facilitate public lands access for recreational service providers serving environmental justice communities. (3) Any case studies that may provide illustrative examples of how special recreation permits, partnerships, or cooperative agreements are being effectively used by land managers for the purposes of providing public lands access to recreation service providers serving environmental justice communities. (4) Identification of any barriers to public lands access for recreation service providers serving environmental justice communities. (5) Any recommendations for agency policy, or if necessary, action by Congress to encourage and simplify public lands access for recreational service providers serving environmental justice communities. (b) Voluntary participation by special recreation providers The Secretaries— (1) shall contact all current or prospective special recreation providers to request a voluntary estimation of how many user days are used by individuals from environmental justice communities; (2) shall request from recreational service providers and interested members of the public any other information that supports the reporting requirements in subsection (a); and (3) shall not use participation or information provided as a condition in approving or rejecting a special recreation permit. (c) Definitions In this Act: (1) The term environmental justice community means a community with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal and indigenous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects than other communities. (2) The terms recreation service provider , special recreation permit , Secretaries , and Secretary have the same meaning as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act ( 16 U.S.C. 6801 ).