Johnson, Dingell Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Debbie Dingell (R-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act, to reauthorize and strengthen the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provides grants to states and tribal governments to incentivize private landowners to voluntarily open their lands for public use while upholding private property rights. The bill increases the program’s funding from $50 million to $150 million over 5 years, from fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

A lack of access to land is a common barrier to participation in outdoor recreational activities such as hunting, angling, and wildlife viewing. The VPA-HIP seeks to address this challenge by expanding public access to land for recreation purposes. It would also stimulate local economies by supporting jobs in the outdoor recreation economy, specifically in our rural communities. Finally, funding from this program is utilized to provide assistance to landowners for wildlife habitat improvement and enhancement programs. 

“This voluntary program has proven to be successful – encouraging conservation while allowing public access,” said Johnson. “I’ll work to include programs like this in the 2023 Farm Bill to ensure the tradition of outdoor recreation for future generations of South Dakotans.”

“A big part of Michigan’s culture and heritage has always included outdoor recreation like fishing and hunting, and continuing to expand access to land for public use is important to continuing these rich traditions,” said Dingell. “The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act will expand outdoor recreation opportunities nationwide, improve access to the outdoors for all Americans, and bolster critical conservation efforts. I look forward to working with my bipartisan co-lead to advance this bill through the Farm Bill process.” 

“Lack of access is the largest barrier to hunter and angler participation, and the USDA’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program is the single best federal tool to increase recreational access on private lands. We applaud Representatives Dingell and Johnson for their leadership on the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act and we look forward to working with Congress to expand hunting and fishing opportunities for all Americans,” said Whit Fosburgh, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

More funding for the Voluntary Public Access Habitat Incentive Program will result in more places to hunt and fish in South Dakota and reward our landowners for providing that access. It will help maintain out sporting traditions and benefit our outdoor economy. Thanks so much to Congressman Johnson for sponsoring the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act,” said Megan Howell, Executive Director of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation.

“Restoring wildlife habitat and expanding recreational access on private lands is a win-win for both wildlife and the hunters, anglers, and outdoorspeople, who power our $862 billion outdoor recreation economy. This common-sense bill will ensure farmers, ranchers, and private landowners have the tools and resources they need through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program to sustain our shared wildlife heritage. Thank you to Representatives Dingell and Johnson and their colleagues in the Senate for working to pass this important bipartisan legislation,” saidCollin O’Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.

“Since 2008, the Voluntary Public Access & Habitat Incentive Program has provided one of the most vital funding sources for increasing public access to private lands for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation. The economic returns from investments in VPA-HIP have been shown many times over across America for rural communities. Access is at the core of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s mission, and we thank Representatives Dingell and Johnson for their bipartisan support for this very successful program,” saidMarilyn Vetter, President and CEO of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever.

This legislation is identical to the bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Roger Marshall (R-KS).

Read the text of the bill here.