The Association Applauds the Introduction of the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act in both the House and the Senate

Washington D.C. (February 25, 2025)- The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds the bipartisan and bicameral introduction of the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act. The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, known as VPA-HIP, is a grant program appropriated through the Farm Bill under which state fish and wildlife agencies and tribes can apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to expand public access to private lands for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife dependent recreation. If enacted, the Volunteer Public Access Improvement Act will increase funding for this important program to $150 million over the life of the Farm Bill.

“The grants administered by this important program are crucial in allowing state fish and wildlife agencies to support public access for wildlife-dependent recreation on private lands,” said Judith Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and President of the Association. “The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act will provide much needed funding to increase public access to private lands for recreational opportunities and enhance fish and wildlife habitats.”

The 2018 Farm Bill allocated $50 million for VPA-HIP over five years, and 26 states and one tribe received grants. Increasing the funding level to $150 million will allow prior grant recipients to expand access opportunities, while also enabling states and tribes that have not previously participated to create their own public access programs.

The Association thanks representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Roger Marshall (R-CO) for their leadership in sponsoring this legislation. We look forward to advocating for this legislation to be incorporated into future Farm Bill legislative proposals.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies—the organization that represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies—promotes sound resource management and conservation, and speaks on important fish and wildlife issues. Found on the web at www.fishwildlife.org, on Facebook /AssociationofFishandWildlifeAgencies and on Twitter @fishwildlife.