{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-kennedy-introduces-legislation-expand-access-public-lands", "Representative Kennedy introduces legislation to expand access to public lands for Americans with disabilities", "2026-06-11", "2026", "2026-06", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Kennedy", "K000403", "mikekennedy.house.gov", "mikekennedy", "https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. - Congressman Mike Kennedy, M.D. (UT-03) introduced the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act, legislation designed to modernize infrastructure, remove bureaucratic red tape, and expand accessibility across federal public lands for individuals with physical and mobility disabilities.\n\nAmericans with disabilities face barriers to accessing and enjoying federal public lands due to limited motorized access and the closure of roads that provide critical recreational opportunities.\n\nThe Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act addresses this issue by requiring federal land managers to maintain adequate motorized access when updating travel management plans. By establishing accessibility standards, requiring replacement routes for closures, and increasing coordination with local stakeholders, the bill helps ensure that Americans with disabilities can continue to access and enjoy the nation's public lands.\n\n\u201cUtah's national parks and public lands are some of the most beautiful in the entire country,\u201d said Congressman Mike Kennedy. \u201cTo call this land 'public' means little if it is inaccessible to so many Americans with disabilities. This bill makes sure the land stays open and accessible to everyone.\u201d\n\n\"On behalf of our members with disabilities, I would like to thank Representative Mike Kennedy for his leadership on this issue. Federal land managers are required to analyze the impacts of their decisions on dirt, but they have no requirement to ensure that their decisions don't hurt disabled Americans,\u201d said Ben Burr, Executive Director of BlueRibbon Coalition. \u201cEvery time decisions are announced to close more of our backcountry roads, I hear from our disabled members that they feel discriminated against and ignored. Our federal land managers need strong guidance from Congress to manage our public lands in a way that benefits all Americans, and this legislation provides necessary and powerful protections.\"\n\n\u201cAs President of the Blue Ribbon Coalition, it has been very disappointing to watch the unprecedented amount of public land closures to motorized vehicle use over the past few years,\u201d said Ranch Pratt, President of BlueRibbon Coalition. \u201c These closures do not contemplate the diverse needs of those who use the land. I am excited to see Representative Kennedy leading the fight to get this bill passed in the House. We all have a right to enjoy public lands and this is a sure step in the right direction and an obvious solution to the challenge of access to those with disabilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cUtah Public Lands Alliance is in strong support of the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act,\u201d said Loren Campbell, President of the Utah Public Lands Alliance. \u201cOne out of every 4 Americans is affected by some type of disability that affects them in their ability to enjoy our beautiful public lands, and UPLA is thrilled to reopen the door to the great outdoors reopened to them.\u201d\n\n\u201cWithout motorized access, those with special needs and disabilities - including many veterans - will not have access to public lands because they do not have the ability to hike, jump on a bike, or ride a horse. Motorized vehicles are essentially an extension of their body, it\u2019s their legs to enjoy the same great outdoors that able-bodied citizens can enjoy,\u201d said Rich Klein, President/Founder of Trail Hero. \u201cIf you eliminate motorized access to public lands then you take out two user groups that have zero chance to ever experience these public lands. These user groups are not asking to forge new trails, they just want to keep existing routes and trails open so that they can get the same therapeutic experience from nature that able-bodied citizens have access to. At Trail Hero we have had over 5000 veterans and over 1000 people with special needs join us on trails throughout Utah over the last 9 years.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a 100 percent disabled veteran, public lands represent more than just open space\u2014they are a lifeline. For those of us who live with permanent disabilities, outdoor access is not a luxury but a vital way to heal, connect with others, and maintain a sense of independence. The outdoors provides a place where we can find peace, camaraderie, and purpose, whether through fishing, camping, or off-roading. These experiences help offset the challenges of daily life with disabilities and allow us to share meaningful moments with our families and communities. Motorized access is especially critical,\" said Heather Coburn of 4 Wheel to Heal. \u201cNot every disabled veteran has the ability to hike long distances or carry heavy gear into remote areas. Off-road vehicles, UTVs, and other motorized means of transportation open the doors to trails, scenic overlooks, hunting grounds, and camp spots that would otherwise be out of reach. For me and many like me, this access isn\u2019t about convenience\u2014it\u2019s about inclusion. It ensures that disabled veterans and others with mobility challenges are not excluded from the very landscapes we once swore to defend. Keeping public lands open for motorized use protects the principle of shared freedom. Closing these areas or restricting vehicle access risks shutting out entire groups of people who depend on these opportunities for recreation, therapy, and connection. As a veteran, I know firsthand the sacrifices made to preserve the freedoms we enjoy. One of the most powerful ways to honor that sacrifice is by ensuring that our public lands remain open and accessible to all\u2014especially those whose service left them with lasting physical limitations.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs President of UTV Utah, one of the largest off-road groups in the state representing over 50,000 families, I strongly support the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act. This crucial legislation will ensure that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from the benefits of outdoor recreation on public lands. Our group has organized numerous rides for those with special needs, allowing them to experience the beauty of our public lands through motorized recreation,\u201d said Bud Bruening, President of UTV Utah. \u201cWithout protected access to these roads and trails, many individuals with disabilities would be deprived of the chance to enjoy these natural spaces. The Act\u2019s requirement for land management agencies to recognize motorized recreation as an important form of disability access is vital. We must safeguard this access to ensure that everyone, regardless of physical ability, can continue to enjoy the magnificent landscapes of Utah. I urge all stakeholders to support this essential legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cEqual access isn\u2019t a talking point; it\u2019s how our parents and grandparents taught us this country, on the very mineral exploration roads they built. With elders and Americans with disabilities still using them to share the land with friends and grandkids, Easter Jeep Safari, a long-tenured Moab tradition for over 6 decades, is part of that living history, bringing thousands into the region each spring as well as throughout the year. For many, a steering wheel is mobility. Public lands hold the promise and freedoms for all Americans,\u201d said George Schultz, President of Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc. \u201cThe Red Rock 4-Wheelers thank Representative Kennedy for backing the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act to keep that access lawful, open, and stewarded, honoring the time-tested EJS heritage, improving safety, and preserving these routes for our grandchildren\u2019s grandchildren and beyond.\u201d\n\n\"As the Safety and Education Coordinator I support any legislation that protects access for people like myself with mobility limitations,\u201d Said Christie Chatfield, of the Arizona State Association of 4 wheel Drive Clubs. \u201cWhen access is restricted to non motorized use, thousands of people are denied the opportunity to experience that area.\"\n\n\u201cOne of the many blessings of this life is being able to spend time in the outdoors,\u201d said Nick Steinbach of Desert Raiders M/C. \u201cThe Positive affected it has on a persons mind and soul is almost indescribable. Taking away access for those with disabilities would take away the pleasure from them.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a cancer survivor who is dealing with long term side effects from chemo it has limited my physical abilities,\u201d said Andy Gordon, Board Member for the Castle Country OHV Association. \u201cI can still hike short distances to see things from where I ride my ohv to but if ohv access gets eliminated and the hiking gets further then I would not be able to hike the full distance in. We should not be limiting access to our public lands. The discrimination against motorized and disabled users needs to stop!\u201d\n\n\u201cI have been a lifetime OHV Enthusiast and have used both the state and federal lands in Idaho and surrounding states to recreate,\u201d said Jeff Bell. \u201cI became disabled in 2021 and now require motorized vehicle access to use these public areas. I am ambulatory paraplegic. I am able to walk short distances but cannot traverse uneven ground very well. I require some kind of motorized assistance to get around out in the desert and the woods. Eliminating motorized access would eliminate me from being able to see and experience the forest and desert.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am 83 and have recreated on public lands for over 60 years,\u201d said Glen Zumwalkt of the Tri-State ATV Association. \u201cMany of my fondness memories are of those activities. Personally some of my most rewarding experiences are sharing outdoor adventures with others who haven't yet enjoyed those I have.\u201d\n\n\u201cI support the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act. Getting outdoors and recreating on our public lands is a right that all Americans should be able to enjoy. But those with Disabilities aren't able to enjoy them in many cases, because they can't access our public lands without the use of motorized transportation,\u201d said Steven Hawkins of Utah ATV Association. \u201cThe travel plans that are being implemented by the BLM and Forest Service completely disregard the needs of Americans with disabilities. Being able to get out and enjoy nature improves their mental health, and in many cases their physical health.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to public property is about more than just recreation, it is a cornerstone of who we are and why we live in the areas we do,\u201d said Darrel Raver of North Idaho Trailblazers. \u201cCamping, hunting and all forms of recreation are important to our health and well-being physically and economically. To limit access affects both. I ask that you please maintain all roads and trails that have historically been in place.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a board member of Castle Country I support this. I wouldn't have been able to see half the places I have with my family if we had to hike or were unable to get there on the SXS. Also, we have a disabled kid within our organization and he is able to drive or ride in a sxs with the group to see a bunch of these sites,\u201d said Jerace Glover, Board Member for Castle Country OHV Association. \u201cIf we lock up and close the trails he and everyone else with disabilities are then unable to see the same sites as the people who are physically fit enough to hike for miles. This seems to me to be discrimination at its most basic point.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince a small stroke in 2020 I have had limited mobility on my left side. I can walk about 50 yards and then I need help,\u201d said Steve Williams of Tucson Rough Riders. \u201cMy Jeep is my only way to access the back country and the many beautiful areas of the southwest. As a landscape and nature photographer any limitations to trail access has a direct effect on the areas I can experience, photograph and share. Please support the Bill to provide access for all Americans.\u201d\n\n\"The Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act would ensure that federal lands, including our nation's natural treasures, can be enjoyed by and are accessible to all Americans,\" said Laura Butcher, Legislative Director for the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA). \"For far too long, federal land management policies have reduced motorized recreational access to public lands at the expense of the disabled and large segments of the U.S. population who are not physically able to enjoy them. Rep. Kennedy's bill is a welcome policy shift in the name of access for the American people.\"\n\nBackground\n\nThe Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act:\n\nDefines disability-accessible land as one square mile with at least 2.5 miles of authorized motorized routes.\n\nRequires travel management updates by Interior and the Forest Service to account for accessibility.\n\nMandates coordination with state, county, local, and Tribal governments when designating priority roads.\n\nRestricts road closures that would reduce accessibility, except in emergencies or safety cases.\n\nRequires public notice, comment, and hearings before closures.\n\nPairs closures with replacement routes to maintain access.\n\nCategorically exempts closures and designations from NEPA.\n\nClarifies no mandate to build new roads, but preserves authority to do so if needed.\n\nSenator Mike Lee, and Senator John Curtis are jointly co-leading in the Senate.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-kennedy-introduces-legislation-expand-access-public-lands"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.666950924322009, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}