{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/mcsally-introduces-bill-allow-recreational-concessions-public-land", "McSally Introduces Bill to Allow Recreational Concessions on Public Land", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. SENATE  U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) introduced legislation yesterday to expandrecreational concessions, such as mountain bike rentals, paragliding, horseback riding, camping, and ziplining, in order to enhance visitor experience oncertainpublic lands.\nCurrently, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) allows a number of third-party commercial concessions to take place onpublicland. However,federal lands managed bystates, local governments, and non-profitsthrough the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (RPPA)are prohibited or severely restricted from allowing these concessions.\nPublic lands are meant to be shared by all,said McSally.My legislation willincrease recreational opportunities andallow people to more fully enjoy and appreciate the beauty of our public lands across the country.\nMaricopa County is blessed with wide open spaces for our residents and visitors to enjoy year-round,said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates.We are grateful to Senator McSally for introducing this legislation that will allow counties to work with the Bureau of Land Management to create new outdoor recreation opportunities without compromising the integrity of these precious natural resources.\nThis bill directs the Department of Interior to establish a pilot program of up to 10 sites to allow third-party concessions on public land governed by theRPPA, which authorizes the sale or lease of public lands for recreational or public purposes to State or local governments, or qualified nonprofit organizations.\nRep. Gosar (R-AZ) introduced companion legislation in the House (H.R.4028).\nThe RPPA Commercial Recreation Concessions Pilot Program Act has been endorsed by the National Association of Counties, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the National Association of State Park Directors, and the National Recreation and Park Association.\nThe text of the bill can be found HERE.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.mcsally.senate.gov/mcsally-introduces-bill-allow-recreational-concessions-public-land"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.223462797701359, "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"}