Representative Blake Moore is among a group of Representatives covering both political parties and from multiple states that joined together to introduce the ‘Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act’ also called the MAPLand Act. This Act directs federal land management agencies to digitize and standardize mapping records which, according to the press release, will allow hunters, anglers, and millions of other federal land users to access essential information about public lands as well as help federal land management agencies identify public lands with limited or nonexistent public access points and take proactive steps to open them to the public. “Our nation is blessed with some of the most incredible scenic landscapes and outdoor spaces in the world,” said Congressman Blake Moore. “But each year, millions of Americans venture into the great outdoors without having the most up-to-date data on land access. I am proud to sponsor the MAPLand Act, which would address this by digitizing tens of thousands of records to ensure that fishers, hikers, bikers, hunters, and all who seek to enjoy our federal lands have access to the information they need to fully experience our country’s natural wonders.” Currently, more than 9.52 million acres of land in the West lack permanent and legal access points for public use, and information on these lands is still kept on paper files.
