H.R.1997 / 112th Congress

Making Public Lands Public Access Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 25, 2011

Making Public Lands Public Access Act - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure, from amounts requested for the Land and Water Conservation Fund per fiscal year, that not less than the greater of 1.5% of the requested amounts or $10 million be made available for certain projects identified on an annual priority list to be developed pursuant to this Act.

Requires projects identified on such a list to secure, through rights-of-way or the acquisition of lands or interests from willing sellers, recreational public access to existing federal public lands that have significantly restricted access to hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] · R–FL

Committees

Natural Resources Committee

15 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 3, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
May 25, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
May 25, 2011
Introduced in House
May 25, 2011
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · May 25, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 901 · Making Public Lands Public Access Act

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1997 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.1997, 112th Congress: Making Public Lands Public Access Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/1997

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-05-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr1997/BILLS-112hr1997ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:52:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.1997 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1997 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1997, 112th Congress: Making Public Lands Public Access Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/1997

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-05-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr1997/BILLS-112hr1997ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:52:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1997 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1997 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1997, 112th Congress: Making Public Lands Public Access Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/1997

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-05-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr1997/BILLS-112hr1997ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:52:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1997 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1997 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1997, 112th Congress: Making Public Lands Public Access Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/1997

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-05-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr1997/BILLS-112hr1997ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T17:52:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1997 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.