King’s Bipartisan MAPWaters Act Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), and John Barrasso (R-WY) expressed their appreciation to their Senate colleagues for unanimously passing their bipartisan legislation that will increase public access to all available information about federal waterways. The MAPWaters Act will standardize, consolidate, and publish the digital data related to public recreation on America's federal waterways.

The MAPWaters Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, and it now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law.

"Maine people across the state, and Americans across the country, enjoy recreating on federal waterways like those in Acadia National Park," said Senator King, Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. "The bipartisan MAPWaters Act would combine all the available information about federal waterways into a one-stop resource containing information about recreation and navigation that you can hold in the palm of your hand. This legislation ensures that every person seeking adventure in Maine's federal waterways can do so safely and responsibly."

"Today is a great day for all Americans who enjoy recreating on our federal lands and public waterways," said Senator Barrasso. "Wyoming is home to more than 108,000 miles of rivers, and countless more lakes, ponds, and streams that help create our state's unique system of waterways. The bipartisan MAPWaters Act will ensure the most accurate information is available and easily accessible to everyone who visits our federal lands. Sportsmen and women who enjoy Wyoming's waters will benefit from access to up-to-date data of this wonderful resource."

Information about access to federal waterways, including restrictions on boating, commercial and sport fishing, and seasonal or tidal depth changes, can be difficult or impossible to access in a timely and convenient fashion. The MAPWaters Act will synthesize this important data, allowing the private sector to create products like smartphone applications to inform the public.

Senator King is among the Senate's leading voices for conservation of our nation's outdoor treasures. In 2022, his bipartisan MAPLand bill to modernize park and public land mapping was signed into law. He also helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation includes the Restore Our Parks Act - a bill led by Senator King - and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act.

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