[House Hearing, 118 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



               DISCUSSION DRAFT OF H.R. ____, MILITARY 
                 AND VETERANS IN PARKS ACT; H.R. 1786;
                       H.R. 1829; AND H.R. 2468

=======================================================================

                          LEGISLATIVE HEARING

                               BEFORE THE

                     SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL LANDS

                                 OF THE

                     COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                    ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

                             FIRST SESSION

                               __________

                        Thursday, July 20, 2023

                               __________

                           Serial No. 118-50

                               __________

       Printed for the use of the Committee on Natural Resources
       
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        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov
                                   or
          Committee address: http://naturalresources.house.gov
          
                               __________

                                
                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE                    
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                     COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

                     BRUCE WESTERMAN, AR, Chairman
                    DOUG LAMBORN, CO, Vice Chairman
                  RAUL M. GRIJALVA, AZ, Ranking Member

Doug Lamborn, CO			Grace F. Napolitano, CA
Robert J. Wittman, VA			Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, 	
Tom McClintock, CA			    CNMI
Paul Gosar, AZ				Jared Huffman, CA
Garret Graves, LA			Ruben Gallego, AZ
Aumua Amata C. Radewagen, AS		Joe Neguse, CO
Doug LaMalfa, CA			Mike Levin, CA
Daniel Webster, FL			Katie Porter, CA
Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, PR		Teresa Leger Fernandez, NM
Russ Fulcher, ID			Melanie A. Stansbury, NM
Pete Stauber, MN			Mary Sattler Peltola, AK
John R. Curtis, UT			Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NY
Tom Tiffany, WI				Kevin Mullin, CA
Jerry Carl, AL				Val T. Hoyle, OR
Matt Rosendale, MT			Sydney Kamlager-Dove, CA
Lauren Boebert, CO			Seth Magaziner, RI
Cliff Bentz, OR				Nydia M. Velazquez, NY
Jen Kiggans, VA				Ed Case, HI
Jim Moylan, GU				Debbie Dingell, MI
Wesley P. Hunt, TX			Susie Lee, NV
Mike Collins, GA
Anna Paulina Luna, FL
John Duarte, CA
Harriet M. Hageman, WY

                    Vivian Moeglein, Staff Director
                      Tom Connally, Chief Counsel
                 Lora Snyder, Democratic Staff Director
                   http://naturalresources.house.gov
                                 ------                                

                     SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL LANDS

                       TOM TIFFANY, WI, Chairman
                     JOHN R. CURTIS, UT, Vice Chair
                     JOE NEGUSE, CO, Ranking Member

Doug Lamborn, CO                     Katie Porter, CA
Tom McClintock, CA                   Sydney Kamlager-Dove, CA
Russ Fulcher, ID                     Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, 
Pete Stauber, MN                         CNMI
John R. Curtis, UT                   Mike Levin, CA
Cliff Bentz, OR                      Teresa Leger Fernandez, NM
Jen Kiggans, VA                      Mary Sattler Peltola, AK
Jim Moylan, GU                       Raul M. Grijalva, AZ, ex officio
Bruce Westerman, AR, ex officio

                               ---------                                
                                
                               CONTENTS

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

Hearing held on Thursday, July 20, 2023..........................     1

Statement of Members:

    Tiffany, Hon. Tom, a Representative in Congress from the 
      State of Wisconsin.........................................     2
    Levin, Hon. Mike, a Representative in Congress from the State 
      of California..............................................     3
    Westerman, Hon. Bruce, a Representative in Congress from the 
      State of Arkansas..........................................     4

    Panel I:

    Kiggans, Hon. Jen, a Representative in Congress from the 
      Commonwealth of Virginia...................................     6
    Owens, Hon. Burgess, a Representative in Congress from the 
      State of Utah..............................................     7
    Crane, Hon. Elijah, a Representative in Congress from the 
      State of Arizona...........................................     8
    Levin, Hon. Mike, a Representative in Congress from the State 
      of California..............................................     8

Statement of Witnesses:

    Panel II:

    Lands, Frank, Deputy Director for Operations, National Park 
      Service, Washington, DC....................................     9
        Prepared statement of....................................    11
        Questions submitted for the record.......................    14
    Emanuel, Jacqueline, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 
      System, U.S. Forest Service, Washington, DC................    14
        Prepared statement of....................................    15

    Panel III:

    Cline, Hon. Woody, Supervisor, Gila County, Arizona..........    24
        Prepared statement of....................................    25
    Wilson, Lisa, Deputy Director of Engineering and Operations, 
      Utah Department of Transportation, Salt Lake City, Utah....    28
        Prepared statement of....................................    29
    Villanueva, Jeremy, Government Affairs Associate Director, 
      Wounded Warrior Project, Washington, DC....................    36
        Prepared statement of....................................    37
    Berejka, Marc, Divisional Vice President, Community Advocacy 
      and Impact, REI, Kent, Washington..........................    39
        Prepared statement of....................................    41

Additional Materials Submitted for the Record:

    Bureau of Land Management, Statement for the Record on H.R. 
      2468.......................................................    54

    Submissions for the Record by Representative Westerman

        Safe and Responsible Use Programs, Duane Taylor, 
          Director, Statement for the Record.....................    55

    Submissions for the Record by Representative Tiffany

        ``Therapeutic landscapes, outdoor programs for veterans, 
          and public lands,'' Social Science & Medicine, November 
          19, 2020...............................................    21
                                     
 
   LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON DISCUSSION DRAFT OF H.R. ____, TO 
   PROMOTE AND ENHANCE OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
      MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS ON FEDERAL 
  RECREATIONAL LANDS, ``MILITARY AND VETERANS IN PARKS (MVP) 
 ACT''; H.R. 1786, TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
    TO SUBMIT TO CONGRESS A REPORT ON THE WARRIOR TRAINING 
ADVANCEMENT COURSE, TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO 
ADMINISTER A PILOT PROGRAM TO EMPLOY VETERANS IN POSITIONS THAT 
 RELATE TO CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES OF 
 THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, ``GET 
  REWARDING OUTDOOR WORK FOR OUR VETERANS ACT, OR (GROW) ACT; 
 H.R. 1829, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TO CONVEY 
THE PLEASANT VALLEY RANGER DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE SITE TO GILA 
COUNTY, ARIZONA; AND H.R. 2468, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF THE 
 INTERIOR TO CONVEY TO THE STATE OF UTAH CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND 
  UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION OF THE BUREAU OF LAND 
 MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF CAMP WILLIAMS, UTAH, AND 
 FOR OTHER PURPOSES, ``MOUNTAIN VIEW CORRIDOR COMPLETION ACT''

                              ----------                              


                        Thursday, July 20, 2023

                     U.S. House of Representatives

                     Subcommittee on Federal Lands

                     Committee on Natural Resources

                             Washington, DC

                              ----------                              

    The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9 a.m. in Room 
1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Tom Tiffany 
[Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding.
    Present: Representatives Tiffany, Fulcher, Stauber, Bentz, 
Kiggans, Westerman; Porter, and Leger Fernandez.
    Also present: Representatives Crane and Owens.

    Mr. Tiffany. The Subcommittee on Federal Lands will come to 
order.
    Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a 
recess of the Subcommittee at any time.
    The Subcommittee is meeting today to consider four bills: 
Representative Kiggans' Military and Veterans in Parks Act; 
H.R. 1786, Representative Levin's Get Rewarding Outdoor Work 
for our Veterans Act, the GROW Act; H.R. 1829, from 
Representative Crane; and H.R. 2468 from Representative Owens, 
Mountain View Corridor Completion Act.
    I ask unanimous consent that the following Members be 
allowed to participate in today's hearing from the dais: the 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Hunt; the gentleman from Utah, Mr. 
Owens; and the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Crane.
    Without objection, so ordered.
    Under Committee Rule 4(f), any oral opening statements at 
hearings are limited to the Chairman and the Ranking Minority 
Member.
    I therefore ask unanimous consent that all other Members' 
opening statements be made part of the hearing record if they 
are submitted in accordance with Committee Rule 3(o).
    Without objection, so ordered.
    I will now recognize myself for an opening statement.

STATEMENT OF THE HON. TOM TIFFANY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS 
                  FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

    Mr. Tiffany. Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands 
continues our celebration of America by considering legislation 
that recognizes the brave men and women whose heroism and 
sacrificial service to this country protect our safety and the 
liberties that we cherish. The legislation we will consider 
today offers thoughtful solutions that will improve outdoor 
recreation opportunities for our nation's heroes, provide 
spaces for relaxation and healing for military families.
    The perils of military service, unfortunately, leave many 
members of our Armed Forces with long-lasting wounds: some 
visible, some invisible. An estimated 50 percent of veterans 
experience some combination of combat-related psychological or 
physical injuries, and as many as 66 percent have diagnosable 
mental health issues.
    Research has consistently shown that time spent in nature 
and recreating outdoors can be beneficial and therapeutic to 
soldiers returning from the battlefield, particularly for those 
dealing with PTSD. With the proper stewardship, our national 
parks and public lands can play a critical role, offering 
convenient, affordable, and accessible recreation opportunities 
to our country's armed services and veterans. I would say all 
of us can benefit from being outdoors, which I am looking 
forward to this weekend.
    The unfortunate reality is that veterans, and wounded 
warriors in particular, often find much of our public lands to 
be off limits. Trails can be inaccessible or not maintained. 
Outdated regulations can limit the use of new, adaptive 
recreation equipment. And even if adaptive recreation 
opportunities are offered, finding information about those 
opportunities from Federal land managers can be next to 
impossible.
    Our veterans deserve to access the very lands they fought 
so hard to protect and defend. Every American owes our nation's 
veterans an unpayable debt, and it is incumbent upon each one 
of us sitting around the dais today to fight to ensure our 
public lands are stewarded in a way that makes them accessible 
for our nation's military veterans and Gold Star families. That 
is why I am a strong supporter of Representative Kiggans' 
legislation, Military and Veterans in Parks Act, or the MVP 
Act.
    I am thankful for Representative Kiggans' leadership on 
this issue. As a freshman member of our Committee and a former 
Navy helicopter pilot, there is nobody more well-suited to lead 
this effort than her. She is a tireless advocate for our 
nation's service members and veterans, especially for those in 
her district in Virginia.
    I would also like to take a moment to recognize the other 
important legislative efforts on today's agenda.
    H.R. 1829, offered by Congressman Crane, would create a 
retreat facility in Gila County, Arizona for veterans and their 
families to relax and enjoy the outdoors with their families.
    H.R. 2468, the Mountain View Corridor Completion Act, 
offered by Representative Owens of Utah, conveys land within 
the boundary of Camp Williams, an important National Guard 
training facility, to the state of Utah to complete the 
Mountain View Corridor.
    Finally, Representative Levin's GROW Act is a bipartisan 
bill that helps veterans find employment at the Department of 
the Interior through a new pilot project. Only one in four 
veterans have jobs lined up after leaving the Armed Forces. 
Representative Levin's legislation will enable veterans to find 
stable, well-paying jobs that enable them to be outdoors.
    In closing, I believe our agenda today honors our military 
members and veterans, and will hopefully make tangible and 
meaningful improvements in their lives. I want to thank all the 
bill sponsors for their leadership on these important bills 
before us.
    I also want to recognize and thank the witnesses for being 
here, and for your advocacy on behalf of our nation's brave 
heroes.
    With that, I will now recognize Ranking Member Levin, 
sitting in in place of Representative Neguse today.
    Welcome, and we would love to hear your opening statement.

STATEMENT OF THE HON. MIKE LEVIN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS 
                  FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

    Mr. Levin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that. 
Ranking Member Neguse had a scheduling conflict, so I am 
filling in.
    Today's hearing includes key bills designed to uplift and 
support the veterans community, continuing important work to 
promote access to public lands among service members and 
veterans.
    Last Congress, I was proud to support bipartisan 
legislation to ensure free access to public lands for all 
veterans and Gold Star families. Passing the Alexander Lofgren 
Veterans and Parks Act was a valuable milestone. However, there 
is always more we can do to deepen the connections between 
veterans and their public lands. That is why I am particularly 
excited to talk about my bill, H.R. 1786.
    The GROW Act establishes a pilot program aimed at employing 
veterans in conservation and resource management activities 
directly on our public lands. By engaging our veterans in the 
preservation of our public lands, we honor their dedication to 
our nation and provide them with meaningful career development 
opportunities. The participation of veterans and conservation 
and resource management activities through the pilot program 
established by the GROW Act not only offers them valuable 
employment opportunities, but also enlists their expertise and 
passion in safeguarding these lands for all Americans to enjoy.
    We will also be reviewing the Military and Veterans in 
Parks Act, a discussion draft from Representative Kiggans 
geared toward increasing recreation opportunities for veterans. 
The MVP Act is an excellent companion to the GROW Act, and two 
great acronyms for these two bills, by the way.
    Our public lands, which encompass breathtaking landscapes, 
diverse ecosystems, and a rich cultural heritage are national 
treasures. Enhancing opportunities for veterans to connect with 
them, whether through work or recreation, should be a priority 
for this Subcommittee. By combining efforts to support our 
veterans and preserve our public lands, we foster a profound 
sense of patriotism and stewardship, ensuring that the beauty 
of our nation's natural heritage endures for years to come.
    It is encouraging to see us come together in a bipartisan 
manner to ensure that our heroes are rewarded for their 
sacrifices, given every opportunity to succeed, and celebrated 
for their continued service to our great nation.
    I look forward to the conversation today and yield back the 
balance of my time.

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Mr. Levin. I would now like to 
recognize the Chairman of the Natural Resources Full Committee 
for an opening statement.
    Mr. Westerman.

  STATEMENT OF THE HON. BRUCE WESTERMAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
              CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ARKANSAS

    Mr. Westerman. Thank you, Chairman Tiffany, and thank you 
to everyone that is here today.
    Ronald Reagan once said that veterans know better than 
anyone else the price of freedom, for they have suffered the 
scars of war. We can offer them no better tribute than to 
protect what they have won for us. I think that is very fitting 
as we begin this hearing today. What our veterans have won and 
defended for us includes the full splendor and abundance of 
national parks and public lands that we, as Americans, have 
been blessed with. And there is no better tribute to them than 
ensuring their full access to these lands so that they can 
begin often the long process of healing the scars that remain 
from war.
    From the National Mall here in Washington, DC to the 
backcountry wilderness areas in my district in Arkansas, our 
national parks and public lands can and should be places of 
healing and comfort for our veterans.
    Last year, I was proud to co-lead the bipartisan Alexander 
Lofgren Veterans in Parks Act, or the VIP Act, alongside 
Representative Miller-Meeks, to provide free lifetime passes to 
our public lands to our veterans and Gold Star families. The 
Military and Veterans in Parks Act, or the MVP Act, is a 
continuation of our bipartisan efforts to truly unleash the 
full outdoor recreation potential of the public lands our 
military service members and veterans fought so hard to defend.
    When I became Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee 
earlier this year, I laid out a vision for our public lands 
with my Republican colleagues that was focused on increasing 
access. And while I know that increasing access for our 
veterans, military service members, and individuals with 
disabilities are goals that have been talked about and 
idealized for a long time, it is now time to turn that talk 
into action, and that is exactly what Representative Kiggans is 
doing here today by leading the MVP Act.
    As a former Navy helicopter pilot, I know that she 
understands how difficult it can be for our country's veterans 
to return to civilian life, and the importance that time 
outdoors can have towards easing that transition. The MVP Act 
sets a new bar for what it means to truly have access to our 
national parks and public lands, creating tangible and 
meaningful improvements in the lives of veterans.
    It would create new, adaptive trails and recreation 
opportunities such as hiking, camping, skiing, and kayaking in 
each region managed by the BLM, the Forest Service, and the 
Park Service. With minor improvements to existing 
infrastructure, we can turn inaccessible recreation into 
accessible opportunities for wounded warriors and individuals 
with disabilities broadly.
    The bill would also streamline the permitting and fee 
process for veterans groups to host activities and events on 
Federal lands, and provide assistance to organize and host more 
of these events.
    As you can see in the pictures behind me, these events 
reach thousands of veterans annually. This legislation would 
help more groups organize events so that veterans can become 
more connected to nature and to each other. This is critical, 
as research has proven time and time again that nature can be 
one of the most effective treatments for veterans suffering 
from physical or psychological injuries from the battlefield.
    The MVP Act, like the GROW Act, would also promote career 
and volunteer opportunities for our veterans. I would like to 
acknowledge Representative Levin and Representative Wittman's 
work on the GROW Act, which is a win-win for both our veterans 
and Federal land managers.
    I would like to also recognize the efforts of my colleague 
from Arizona, Representative Crane, to help veterans in his 
community. A veteran himself, the legislation he has before us 
today would help turn under-utilized Forest Service land and 
buildings into a veterans' retreat in Young, Arizona.
    Our nation's service members, veterans, and Gold Star 
families, they really are our MVPs, and they should be entitled 
to fully experience the public lands they or their fallen 
family members put their lives on the line to defend. The brave 
men and women in our nation's Armed Forces are the best that 
our nation has to offer, and they deserve access to the best 
recreation opportunities our nation's Federal lands have to 
offer.
    Again, I would like to thank the witnesses for joining us 
today, particularly those who are veterans themselves. I look 
forward to hearing your testimony, although I will have to 
leave before I get to hear all your testimony. But we do have 
written copies, and I thank you.
    I yield back the balance of my time.

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will now move on 
to our first panel, which consists of Members who are 
sponsoring bills today.
    First of all, I would like to recognize Representative 
Kiggans in regards to the MVP Act.

STATEMENT OF THE HON. JEN KIGGANS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS 
               FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

    Mrs. Kiggans. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I appreciate the 
opportunity to speak in support of the Military and Veterans in 
Parks Act, nicknamed the MVP Act after the invaluable role our 
service members play in protecting our great nation.
    As the wife of a veteran, the mother of future veterans, 
and a Navy veteran myself, I have a unique understanding of the 
issues plaguing this important population. As a geriatric nurse 
practitioner who spent years caring for our greatest 
generation, I have also seen the effects of not just physical 
injuries sustained on the battlefield, but combat-related 
emotional trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and countless 
other psychological wounds. These lasting scars make the 
already difficult transition back to civilian life that much 
harder for our veterans.
    Almost two-thirds of all post-9/11 veterans are 
experiencing mental health issues, and 25 percent of all 
veterans have a service-related disability. We should be going 
above and beyond to give these heroes every opportunity to 
reintegrate into civil society.
    Between the beach and the bay, southeast Virginia is home 
to some of the most beautiful natural resources in the country. 
Residents and visitors alike enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, 
kayaking, camping, and countless other forms of outdoor 
recreation, often on one of the many national wildlife refuges 
we have. The MVP Act ensures that these recreation 
opportunities are available to our military service members, 
veterans, and Gold Star families.
    As a primary care provider, I know the connection between 
outdoor recreation, exercise, and positive mental health 
outcomes cannot be denied. This important bill seeks to 
capitalize on these proven benefits to help our most vulnerable 
veterans. Research consistently demonstrates that spending time 
in nature can reduce stress, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and 
depression, and enhance overall psychological and well-being.
    For our veterans who suffer from both physical and 
invisible wounds of war, these benefits are particularly 
critical. That is why it is incredibly frustrating to me that 
accessibility remains a significant obstacle for disabled 
veterans in our national parks and recreation sites. Steep 
trails, inaccessible facilities, and inadequate accommodations 
limit the ability of veterans with disabilities to fully enjoy 
all the fantastic recreation opportunities our Federal lands 
have to offer.
    The MVP Act directs the Forest Service, BLM, and the 
National Park Service to each develop adaptive trails and 
campgrounds in the regions they manage, as well as accessible 
hunting, fishing, and kayaking opportunities.
    I cannot stress enough how important it is that we invest 
in infrastructure and initiatives that make our parks more 
accessible to those with disabilities, especially our veterans. 
This includes the construction of wheelchair-accessible trails, 
ramps, and facilities, as well as transportation options within 
parks, ensuring that disabled individuals have convenient 
access to all areas.
    Though my time in Congress has been short, I have made it 
my mission since Day 1 to advocate for the mental health of our 
service members and veterans. This goal impacts everything I do 
here in Washington, admittedly, most of all in the Armed 
Services and Veterans Affairs Committees. But Virginia's 2nd 
District is home to more veterans than almost any other in the 
country, as well as some of the nation's most beautiful natural 
resources. Therefore, it is a great honor to be advocating for 
the MVP Act before this Committee today.
    These brave men and women have dedicated their lives to the 
service of our nation, defending our freedoms, and protecting 
our way of life. They have displayed extraordinary courage, 
resilience, and unwavering commitment to our country. It is our 
duty to ensure they receive the support and opportunities they 
deserve, even after their service has concluded. I hope my 
colleagues recognize the great need for the MVP Act, and I urge 
your support.
    Thank you, and I yield back.

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Representative Kiggans. I now 
recognize Representative Owens for 5 minutes on H.R. 2468.

   STATEMENT OF THE HON. BURGESS OWENS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
                CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF UTAH

    Mr. Owens. Thank you, Chairman Tiffany and Ranking Member 
Levin, for the opportunity to testify on behalf of my bill, 
H.R. 2468, the Mountain View Corridor Completion Act.
    I was pleased to introduce this legislation earlier this 
year with the support of Congressman John Curtis, a member of 
this Committee. Both Congressman Curtis and I represent some of 
the fastest-growing counties in the fastest-growing state in 
the nation. The transportation infrastructure needed to support 
this growing population is under immense stress. Fortunately, 
Utah is up for the challenge.
    To add to our challenging, tremendous growth is the added 
factor of over two-thirds of the state of Utah being owned or 
controlled by different Federal Government agencies. Connecting 
communities over and across some of these federally owned 
parcels creates a unique difficulty, which often requires 
intervention and approval of the U.S. Congress. This bill 
addresses one of those situations.
    The Department of Transportation, UDOT, has been 
anticipating our population growth for decades, and began work 
over 15 years ago on a project called the Mountain View 
Corridor. The corridor connects eastern Utah County and 
southwestern Salt Lake County, transecting the military 
training installation of Camp Williams. Camp Williams is a 
24,000-acre training area managed by the U.S. Army National 
Guard.
    This existing road, the Mountain View Corridor, serves as 
the only public access to the headquarters area of the Utah 
National Guard complex, as well as access to the National 
Security Agency, NSA, Data Center. Two-thirds of the Mountain 
View Corridor project has already been completed, and the final 
third would require an acquisition by UDOT of three separate 
irregular parcels of land totaling 36 acres. This is Federal 
land technically owned by the Bureau of Land Management.
    Because these parcels are located inside the existing 
boundaries of an active military reservation created in 1914 by 
President Woodrow Wilson's executive order, the BLM does not 
actively manage these parcels. They are instead managed by the 
U.S. Army National Guard, which does not use this land, nor has 
any plans to do so in the future. This bill is needed because 
BLM lacks authority to transfer the land presently under the 
control of the U.S. military.
    The Utah National Guard is in full support of the Mountain 
View Corridor project, and has worked extensively with UDOT, as 
well as BLM, on the project's proper alignment.
    Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, I urge this Committee to 
move quickly to approve this legislation.
    Thank you, and I yield back.
    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you very much, Representative Owens. 
Next, I recognize Representative Crane for 5 minutes on H.R. 
1829.

    STATEMENT OF THE HON. ELIJAH CRANE, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
               CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA

    Mr. Crane. Thank you, Chairman Tiffany, for the opportunity 
to be here today. Thank you for inviting me to participate in 
today's hearing and speak in support of my bill.
    I also want to thank Congressman Paul Gosar for his 
leadership in this effort, and I also want to thank Senators 
Kelly and Sinema from Arizona for co-sponsoring this 
legislation.
    This piece of legislation was the first bill I introduced, 
and is a testament to veterans in Arizona. Specifically, my 
bill would enable Gila County, Arizona to build a veterans 
center on 232 acres in Young, Arizona. As a former Navy Seal, I 
know the importance of providing this resource cannot be 
understated.
    This legislation will serve our state and its heroes well. 
The Veterans Center would protect and maintain the rich history 
of the property, while providing family housing, meeting and 
activity spaces, resource rooms, veteran ceremonial grounds, 
and outdoor recreation. It would be the first of its kind in 
northern Arizona, providing resources and support to primarily 
rural veterans and their families.
    Veterans in northern Arizona deserve a space to heal and 
reconnect with their families after putting their lives on the 
line for the peace and freedom of all Americans. I am happy 
that I can be a part of this hearing today, and will get a 
chance later to hear from my friend, Woody Cline, who has been 
very instrumental in raising awareness and support of this 
project.
    I encourage you all to support this legislation. Thank you.
    I yield back.

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Representative Crane. I would like 
to recognize our Ranking Member today, Representative Levin, 
for 5 minutes on H.R. 1786.

STATEMENT OF THE HON. MIKE LEVIN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS 
                  FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

    Mr. Levin. Thank you very much, Chairman Tiffany, for 
holding this legislative hearing, and particularly for hearing 
my legislation, the Get Rewarding Outdoor Work for our 
Veterans, or GROW Act. I was proud to introduce this bipartisan 
bill with my colleague, Rob Wittman of Virginia, to employ more 
veterans in outdoor jobs at the Department of the Interior.
    The Federal Government has a duty to ensure veterans 
returning to civilian life can obtain jobs that advance their 
skill sets and support their families. The Department of the 
Interior, in particular, is well positioned to provide 
rewarding career opportunities that allow veterans to get 
outside and reap the benefits of being in nature for their 
mental and physical health.
    Under my bill, the Department of Labor Veterans Employment 
and Training Service and Department of Veterans Affairs will 
establish guidelines containing best practices for Federal 
agencies to employ transitioning veterans. These guidelines 
will incorporate lessons learned from VA's Warrior Training 
Advancement Course, or WARTAC, an established program with a 
proven track record in training and employing service members 
transitioning from the military. DOI will use those best 
practices to establish a 2-year pilot program to employ 
veterans in positions relating to conservation and resource 
management, and will report back to Congress.
    I place a great importance on conserving our Federal lands 
and waters, and I can think of no better group of individuals 
to continue their service by protecting our natural treasures 
than our veterans. Not only will the GROW Act employ veterans 
at DOI and give them the tools to succeed, I believe it will 
also create a veteran hiring model for all Federal agencies in 
the future. It is a win for the Federal workforce, it is a win 
for the environment, a win for veterans, and a win for our 
country.
    The bill has also been referred to my other committee, the 
House Veterans Affairs Committee, where it has received a 
hearing and a markup in the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee. 
I look forward to receiving feedback from our witnesses today 
on how we can strengthen the portions of this proposal under 
the Natural Resources Committee's jurisdiction so that we can 
move it forward.
    Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Representative Levin. We will now 
move on to our second panel.
    Let me remind the witnesses that under Committee Rules, you 
must limit your oral statements to 5 minutes, but your entire 
statement will appear in the hearing record.
    To begin your testimony, press the ``on'' button on the 
microphone.
    We use timing lights. When you begin, the light will turn 
green. At the end of 5 minutes, the light will turn red, and I 
will ask you to please complete your statement.
    I would now like to introduce Mr. Frank Lands, the Deputy 
Director for Operations at the National Park Service, to 
testify for 5 minutes.
    Mr. Lands, you are recognized.

   STATEMENT OF FRANK LANDS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS, 
             NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, WASHINGTON, DC

    Mr. Lands. Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Levin, and 
members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to 
present the Department of the Interior's views on two items on 
today's agenda. I would like to submit our full statement for 
the record and summarize the Department's views.
    In addition, the Bureau of Land Management has submitted a 
statement for the record on a third bill, H.R. 2468, the 
Mountain View Corridor Completion Act. The Bureau would be 
happy to respond in writing to any questions on that bill.
    The National Park Service strongly supports the goals of 
H.R. 1786, the Get Rewarding Outdoor Work for our Veterans Act, 
or the GROW Act, facilitating greater opportunities for 
employing veterans in conservation and resource management 
work.
    The Department recognizes the immense pool of talent 
represented in our nation's veterans, and we have a strong 
record of employing veterans and their spouses. Currently, more 
than 12,000 of the Department's workforce is made up of 
veterans. A wide range of opportunities in natural and cultural 
resource conservation, law enforcement, maintenance, 
information technology, and administration align particularly 
well with the experiences and interests of many of our 
military's veterans.
    As a former veteran myself, with over 20 years of 
experience working for the military prior to joining the 
National Park Service in 2021, I can personally attest to the 
excellent fit and opportunity the National Park Service offers 
the military, and the military offers the National Park 
Service.
    We also participate in innovative programs such as the 
Traditional Trades Advancement and the Skill Bridge programs, 
which offer opportunities to gain experience working in the 
resource management and conservation field.
    The pilot program envisioned in H.R. 1786 has the potential 
to add to the range of job opportunities that veterans have 
currently within the Department. However, we are concerned 
about the timelines contained in the bill. We would welcome the 
opportunity to work with the sponsors and the Committee on 
amendments to address our concerns.
    On the discussion draft titled the Military and Veterans in 
Parks Act, or MVP Act, the Department strongly supports the 
goals of the discussion draft to promote and enhance outdoor 
recreation opportunities for our active service members and 
veterans, and our full statement provides preliminary views on 
the draft.
    Of note, the discussion draft addresses adaptive trails and 
opportunities for military service members and veterans. The 
Department is committed to meeting standards for accessible 
trails. However, the discussion uses the term ``adaptive 
trails,'' which is not defined in the current authorities.
    It also identifies a number of requirements that would 
entail significant time, effort, and resources to meet if not 
brought into alignment with our other accessibility 
authorities.
    The Department works closely with the Departments of 
Defense and Veterans Affairs as directed in the discussion 
draft, and is committed to providing public information 
regarding its remarkable variety of recreation programs and 
resources.
    We note that the Director of the National Park Service 
currently co-chairs, with the VA, the Task Force on Outdoor 
Recreation for Veterans.
    The Department notes that exempting active duty members and 
their dependent veterans and Gold Star families from Federal 
recreation fees, as proposed, could impact our ability to 
maintain and operate local recreation facilities.
    Additionally, the allocated use exemption may have 
significant impacts to the recreational experiences of other 
public land users.
    The discussion draft contains several other provisions that 
appear to be similar to programs already in place. For example, 
the National Park Service has numerous partnerships with 
entities with experience in outdoor-related volunteer and 
wellness programs for Armed Forces and veterans.
    We also look forward to giving further consideration to how 
the discussion draft's requirements would fit into our existing 
programs.
    The Department would like to have the opportunity to work 
with the sponsor and Committee to better understand the intent 
of some of the provisions, and to provide comments and 
recommended amendments as the draft is introduced.
    Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Levin, thank you again for 
the opportunity to appear before you today. I would be happy to 
answer any questions that you may have.

    [The prepared statement of Mr. Lands follows:]
  Prepared Statement of Frank Lands, Deputy Director for Operations, 
         National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
 on H.R. 1786 and Discussion Draft, H.R. ____, ``Military and Veterans 
                          in Parks (MVP) Act''

    Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Neguse, and members of the 
Subcommittee thank you for the opportunity to provide the views of the 
Department of the Interior on H.R. 1786, the Get Rewarding Outdoor Work 
for our Veterans Act (GROW Act), and a discussion draft of H.R. ____, 
the Military and Veterans in Parks Act (MVP Act).
    The Department strongly supports promoting and enhancing outdoor 
recreation opportunities for active service members and veterans on 
recreational lands under the Department's jurisdiction, and 
facilitating opportunities for the hiring and promoting of veterans 
within the Department's workforce, goals of both H.R. 1786 and the 
discussion draft of the MVP Act.
    The Department employs almost 12,000 veterans Department-wide. 
Within the NPS, over fifteen percent of the National Park Service's 
(NPS) workforce are veterans. These 3,300 veterans work in a wide range 
of natural and cultural resource roles, including law enforcement, 
maintenance, information technology, and administration, and, 
importantly, include both the NPS Director and the NPS Deputy Director 
for Operations.
H.R. 1786, Get Rewarding Outdoor Work for our Veterans Act (GROW Act)

    The Department strongly supports the goal of H.R. 1786 of 
facilitating greater opportunities for employing veterans in 
conservation and resource management work. We recognize the immense 
pool of talent represented in our nation's veterans and, along with 
other Federal agencies, we take seriously our commitment to hiring and 
promoting veterans. We would like to work with the sponsor and the 
Committee on amendments to address the concerns described in this 
statement.
    Our comments are limited to section 3(b) of H.R. 1786. We defer to 
the Department of Veterans Affairs for views on section 2, which 
requires a report on the Warrior Training Advancement Course, and to 
the Department of Labor on section 3(a), which requires the 
establishment of guidelines containing best practices for Federal 
agencies that carry out programs to employ veterans transitioning from 
service in the Armed Forces.
    Section 3(b) would require the Secretary of the Interior, in 
consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
Employment and Training and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to 
establish a pilot program to hire veterans in conservation and resource 
management positions within the Department of the Interior. It would 
require an initial briefing to Congressional committees no later than 
60 days after enactment on how the pilot program will be implemented 
and legislative recommendations for improvement. It would further 
require a second briefing to Congressional committees within one year 
of the start of the pilot program on implementation progress, and the 
issuance of a final written report providing data on the pilot program 
to those same Congressional committees within 30 days of the pilot's 
completion.
    The NPS has had a strong record of employing veterans and their 
spouses, including robust use of applicable special hiring authorities 
such as the Veterans Recruitment Appointment authority, the 30% or More 
Disabled Veteran authority, Spouse Preference, and the authorities 
under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998. As noted 
above, more than 3,300 veterans are employed by the NPS, comprising 
over fifteen percent of the NPS workforce.
    In addition to directly hiring veterans into federal positions, the 
NPS also participates in innovative programs, such as the Traditional 
Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) and SkillBridge, which provide job 
skills and experiences that prepare veterans for post-military careers 
in the Federal government or elsewhere in the public or private 
sectors. The TTAP is a national, pre-apprenticeship-style internship 
program administered by the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center. 
TTAP introduces youth and veterans to skills and careers in the 
historic trades, such as carpentry and masonry, at NPS sites nationwide 
through an earn-as-you-learn experience. With SkillBridge, the NPS 
partners with the Department of Defense to allow active service members 
to intern or apprentice in NPS sites as Volunteers-in-Parks, where they 
can receive training and gain valuable civilian work experience in a 
variety of career fields before they transition out of military 
service.
    Like the NPS, both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have robust programs to employ veterans 
and their spouses. The FWS employs over 1,500 veterans, comprising over 
sixteen percent of the agency's workforce. Through a new entry-level 
hiring initiative, the FWS is directly recruiting veterans and others 
eligible for special hiring authorities into positions in human 
resources, finance, information technology, law enforcement, biological 
fields, and other administrative areas. The FWS has also hosted and 
hired veterans participating in vocational training through the Veteran 
Readiness and Employment program. By advancing these initiatives and 
utilizing our existing special hiring authorities, the FWS is able to 
offer a broad range of career opportunities to our nation's veterans.
    The BLM offers a number of hiring programs that benefit veterans, 
transitioning service members and their families. Veterans may be given 
preference during the hiring process when applying for positions, and 
depending on eligibility, may also qualify for special hiring 
authorities utilized through the Department. Over the past several 
years, for example, the BLM has developed Wildland Firefighting Crews 
specifically designed to employ military Veterans matching our 
veterans' skills with wildland firefighting. Many of the skills 
veterans learned in the military translate to wildland firefighting, 
such as teamwork; decisive leadership; risk mitigation and management; 
logistics and emergency medicine. BLM veteran crews provide job and 
career avenues for military veterans, allowing them to find post-
military careers that provide a sense of serving and working within a 
team setting.
    As noted above, the Department supports the bill's overall goal of 
facilitating greater opportunities for veteran employment. The pilot 
program envisioned by H.R. 1786 has the potential to add to the range 
of job opportunities that veterans have currently within the 
Department. However, we are concerned that the timelines contained in 
the bill for briefing Congressional committees, implementing the pilot 
program, and the issuing a written report would not be sufficient to 
consult with our interagency partners at the Departments of Labor and 
Veterans Affairs, design an effective and evidence-based pilot program, 
and implement the pilot for a sufficient length of time from which to 
gather data to inform our recommendations and reporting. We would 
welcome the opportunity to work with the sponsor and the Committee on 
amendments to address these concerns.
Discussion Draft oF H.R. ____, Military and Veterans in Parks Act (MVP 
        Act)

    The Department strongly supports the goals of the discussion draft 
titled the ``Military and Veterans in Parks Act'' or ``MVP Act'' to 
promote and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for active service 
members and veterans on recreational lands under the Department's 
jurisdiction, and we appreciate that the discussion draft is an effort 
to expand those opportunities. The Department is providing preliminary 
views on this discussion draft and looks forward to providing 
additional comments on this discussion draft and working with the 
Committee as this bill is introduced.
    Section 2 of the discussion draft addresses adaptive trails and 
opportunities for military service members and veterans. Efforts to 
provide more accessible recreational and trail opportunities to the 
public not only help military service members and veterans but all 
people with accessibility issues. The Department is committed to 
meeting standards for accessible trails when constructing new or 
modifying existing trails. The discussion draft uses the term, 
``adaptive trails'' which is not defined in current authorities, and 
also identifies a number of requirements that would require significant 
time, effort and resources to meet if not brought into alignment with 
the other authorities already in use.
    Section 3 of the discussion draft provides direction for the 
Department to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the 
Department of Defense to develop education and public awareness 
materials to members of the Armed Forces and veterans. The Department 
currently works closely with these agencies, and the Director of the 
NPS currently co-chairs with the VA the Task Force on Outdoor 
Recreation for Veterans. The Department agrees with the importance of 
outdoor recreation and is committed to providing public information 
regarding its remarkable variety of recreational programs and resources 
across its bureaus.
    Section 4 of the discussion draft would amend the Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) by exempting all current and former 
military members from paying recreation fees. Currently, we offer no-
cost annual passes to active-duty military members and their 
dependents, and no-cost lifetime passes to veterans and members of Gold 
Star Families. The annual and lifetime passes, however, do not cover 
the full cost of expanded amenity recreation fees or special recreation 
permit fees. This section would direct that in addition to no-cost 
entrance passes, active-duty members and their dependents, veterans, 
and Gold Star Families would also be exempt from standard amenity 
recreation fees, expanded amenity recreation fees, and special 
recreation permit fees. It also provides for streamlining special 
recreation permits to veterans organizations, and exempting these 
organizations from allocations of visitor use days. The Department 
notes that the exemption for fees has the potential to have a financial 
impact to federal agency fee collections, in turn impacting our ability 
to use those funds to maintain and operate local recreation facilities. 
Additionally, other portions of Section 4, such as the allocated use 
exemption, may have significant impacts to the recreational experiences 
of other public land users.
    Section 5 of the discussion draft requires the Department to seek 
to enter into partnerships or agreements with State, Tribal, local or 
private entities with expertise in outdoor-related volunteer and 
wellness programs for members of the Armed Forces or veterans. 
Currently, the NPS Submerged Resources Centers (SRC) Wounded Veterans 
in Parks (WVIP) program engages wounded veterans in underwater 
scientific and resource management mission-based opportunities that 
provide therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits contributing to their 
physical and emotional health. Since 2017 the NPS SRC WVIP program has 
conducted 15 projects working with 5 different veteran service 
organizations in 6 different NPS units. Section 6 directs the 
Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to develop and make public 
a strategy to increase visits to Federal recreational lands by members 
of the Armed Forces, veterans and Gold Star Families. We look forward 
to giving further consideration to how these requirements would fit 
with the existing programs we have for these groups.
    Section 7 of the discussion draft revises FLREA to add veterans 
organizations to the membership of Recreation Resource Advisory 
Committees (RACs). The Department supports the concept of adding 
representation from military service members and veterans to Recreation 
RACs. The BLM notes, however, many RACs currently have difficulty 
getting and keeping enough members for a quorum. This could make it 
harder, especially if a location does not have a local or even regional 
veterans organization.
    Section 8 of the discussion draft addresses providing career and 
volunteer opportunities for veterans in positions related to the 
management of Federal Recreational lands. As noted above, the 
Department appreciates that the experience and interests of many 
military veterans align well with the wide range of opportunities in 
natural and cultural resource lands management within the Department. 
We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that this section is 
not duplicative of current programs and authorities focused on the 
recruitment, training and hiring of veterans.
    Finally, Section 9 of the discussion draft provides definitions 
that the Department is currently reviewing. and may have additional 
comments to ensure clarity in these definitions. The Department would 
like to have the opportunity to work with the sponsor and the Committee 
to better understand the intent of some of the provisions and to 
provide additional comments and recommended amendments.
    Chairman Tiffany, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased 
to answer any questions you or other members of the Subcommittee may 
have.

                                 ______
                                 

Questions Submitted for the Record to Mr. Frank Lands, Deputy Director 
                 for Operations, National Park Service

Mr. Lands did not submit responses to the Committee by the appropriate 
deadline for inclusion in the printed record.

              Questions Submitted by Representative Owens
    Question 1. As my staff worked with the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) to prepare the map for the conveyance in H.R. 2468, the Mountain 
View Corridor Completion Act, we received feedback from the BLM to 
expand the area conveyed to the State of Utah. Is the BLM interested in 
conveying more land in the area? How would a conveyance of this land 
ease the management burden on the agency?

                                 ______
                                 

    Mr. Tiffany. Yes, thank you, Mr. Lands. I now recognize Ms. 
Jacqueline Emanuel, the Associate Deputy Chief for the National 
Forest Service.
    Ms. Emanuel, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

   STATEMENT OF JACQUELINE EMANUEL, ASSOCIATE DEPUTY CHIEF, 
  NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM, U.S. FOREST SERVICE, WASHINGTON, DC

    Ms. Emanuel. Good morning, Chairman Tiffany and Ranking 
Member Levin. My name is Jacqueline Emanuel, and I am Associate 
Deputy Chief of the National Forest System representing the 
U.S. Forest Service.
    In my portfolio, I oversee recreation, heritage, and 
volunteer resources, engineering, the Great American Outdoors 
Act, and the wilderness and wild and scenic rivers, business 
services, and ecosystem management coordination. My background 
includes leading the National Partnership Office and in an 
earlier part of my career I stood up the fee demonstration 
program, which predates the Federal Lands Recreation 
Enhancement Act, which has evolved and grown since that time, 
and is an important part of our discussion today.
    I am pleased to be here before you today to discuss the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's view on two important pieces 
of legislation, both of which focus on serving veterans, active 
duty military, and Gold Star families.
    The first piece of legislation is H.R. 1829, a bill to 
convey lands and facilities from the Forest Service to Gila 
County, Arizona so that the county can build a resort for 
veterans. The Department supports H.R. 1829 as a 
straightforward and common-sense solution to provide Gila 
County, Arizona with a facility that they can use for veterans 
to enjoy our public lands.
    The Department would like to work with the Committee and 
the sponsor on some technical changes that address issues 
around implementing section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act and related to a reversionary clause in the 
bill.
    The second piece of legislation is titled the Military and 
Veterans in Parks Act, and that draft bill provides tangible 
benefits to recognize our veterans, active duty military, and 
Gold Star families, building on the important work of the 
Alexander Lofgren Veterans and Parks Act.
    Additionally, the proposal would make our Federal 
recreation lands more accessible to all. The Department 
strongly supports the intent of the Military and Veterans in 
Parks Act.
    Our comments on this bill pertain only to the Forest 
Service's ability to efficiently and effectively implement the 
Act. The USDA defers to the U.S. Department of the Interior on 
the effects of this bill on DOI bureaus and Federal lands under 
its jurisdiction.
    This draft bill dramatically reduces the fees that 
veterans, Gold Star families, and members of the armed services 
and their dependents would pay when visiting and enjoying 
National Forest System land. This includes most types of 
recreation and special recreation use fees.
    Americans, and especially veterans, are finding connections 
to national forests and grasslands in greater numbers than ever 
before. This surge in visitation is helping us understand how 
to better serve and provide a variety of outdoor experiences to 
accommodate different abilities and needs across the recreation 
opportunity spectrum. Our national forests and grasslands 
belong to all Americans, and our mission is to provide for 
sustainable, high-quality opportunities to all visitors from 
any background or ability.
    The goals of the Military and Veterans in Parks Act aligns 
with the agency's reimagined recreation effort, which engages a 
broad spectrum of stakeholders to advance the agency's outdoor 
recreation agenda. We want to work with the Committee to manage 
through the financial and programmatic impacts of the bill, and 
to ensure any unintended consequences are examined as we strive 
to apply our policies equally across the public.
    We stand at the ready to work with the Committee on the 
development of this legislation.
    Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement, and I would be 
happy to answer any questions you have.

    [The prepared statement of Ms. Emanuel follows:]
   Prepared Statement of Jacqueline Emanuel, Associate Deputy Chief, 
 National Forest System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
 on H.R. 1829 and Discussion Draft, H.R. ____, ``Military and Veterans 
                          in Parks (MVP) Act''

    Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Neguse, and Members of the 
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, regarding H.R. 
1829, and H.R. ____, the ``Military and Veterans in Parks Act'' (``MVP 
Act'').
H.R. 1829

    H.R. 1829 would authorize a land conveyance between the USDA Forest 
Service, Tonto National Forest and Gila County, Arizona. The conveyance 
would be required if requested within 180 days after enactment of the 
bill. The bill would establish the terms for the conveyance as well as 
conditions for reversion of the conveyance.
    The Tonto National Forest is currently using a portion of the 
administrative site that consists of a fire warehouse, helipads, and a 
fenced parking/storage area as depicted on the legislative map as 
``USFS Area.'' The remainder of the administrative site depicted as 
``Gila County Area'' is currently under a special use permit as a term 
lease and the Tonto National Forest does not have existing plans to use 
it in the future. Transferring the site should not impact the Forest's 
administrative or firefighting capacity, and executing the transfer is 
unlikely to impede the Forest and the Agency's ability to serve the 
public.
    This bill would include several provisions related to the transfer. 
The action to initiate the transfer is clearly described, and the 
parcel for transfer is identified through a legislative map. All of the 
costs of conveyance are to be borne by the recipient of the transfer, 
and the agency is not required to provide a covenant or warranty with 
respect to environmental conditions under the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. 
Finally, the interest of the public and government are protected though 
the reversion clause; should the land cease to be used for the purpose 
identified in the legislation, the ownership reverts back to the USDA 
Forest Service.
    The USDA supports H.R. 1829, as a straightforward and commonsense 
solution to provide Gila County Arizona with a facility that they can 
use to provide services to veterans, but would like to work with the 
committee to ensure historic resources are protected as the agency 
complies with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and 
to provide the Secretary with some oversight authority should the 
reversionary clause be utilized and the parcel to return to federal 
ownership.
H.R. ____, Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act

    USDA strongly supports the goals of the draft bill titled the 
Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act to promote and enhance outdoor 
recreation opportunities for members of the Armed Forces and veterans 
on Federal recreational lands. The concepts contained in this 
discussion draft would provide tangible ways to recognize the service 
and sacrifice that this discussion draft is designed to honor. USDA 
would like to work with the discussion draft sponsor and Subcommittee 
on the MVP Act in addressing technical concerns noted in this testimony 
to ensure success in implementation of this discussion draft.
    We are deeply committed to connecting all Americans to the 
outdoors, and we welcome this opportunity to make Federal lands even 
more accessible. The goals of this discussion draft are consistent with 
the Forest Service's engagement with stakeholders this summer in an 
endeavor called ``Reimagine Recreation,'' which addresses equity and 
accessibility issues related to recreation opportunities on Forest 
Service-managed lands. Our comments on this discussion draft pertain to 
its effect on the Forest Service, including management of National 
Forest System lands. USDA defers to the U.S. Department of the Interior 
(DOI) on the effects of this discussion draft on DOI bureaus and the 
Federal lands under their jurisdiction.
    Section 2(a) of the discussion draft would require the Secretary of 
Agriculture to select a location in each Forest Service region for at 
least one adaptive trail, defined as a continuous, land-based route 
with characteristics that allow access for individuals with physical 
disabilities. The discussion draft would place similar requirements on 
the Secretary of the Interior. Locations for adaptive trails would have 
to be identified no later than one year from the date of enactment and 
would have to be completed within five years of enactment, in 
consultation and coordination with stakeholders. Section 2(b) would 
require the Secretaries to identify and develop adaptive recreation 
opportunities, which could include improving access to existing 
recreational facilities such as campgrounds and target ranges or 
activities such as hunting, skiing, rock climbing, boating, and biking. 
Section 2(c) would authorize the Secretaries to enter into agreements, 
contracts, or partnerships to make adaptive rental equipment available 
on Federal recreational lands. Section 2 would also add inventory and 
reporting requirements.
    Pursuant to national guidelines adopted through public notice and 
comment, the Forest Service provides accessible opportunities on some 
trails that are designed for hiker/pedestrian use. Other types of 
trails, such as equestrian or snowmobile trails, are designed for modes 
of travel that involve non-human-powered locomotion. These types of 
trails may accommodate people with disabilities. In addition, pursuant 
to national guidelines adopted through public notice and comment, the 
Forest Service integrates the concept of universal design into 
developed recreation areas on NFS lands. This approach ensures that 
developed recreation sites like campgrounds are accessible to all 
people, including people with disabilities. Some outdoor recreation 
opportunities, like outfitting and guiding and ski areas, are provided 
by concessioners, not the Forest Service. For these recreation 
opportunities, concessioners, rather than the Forest Service, are 
responsible for addressing accessibility. Concessioners are required to 
comply with applicable accessibility requirements. The Forest Service 
works with holders of ski area permits to promote accessibility at ski 
areas. The Forest Service would like to work with the discussion draft 
sponsor and Subcommittee to ensure that requirements to promote rental 
of adaptive recreation equipment do not conflict with concession 
operations on National Forest System lands. We would also suggest 
language regarding partnerships and other opportunities for making 
adaptive equipment available for use at no cost, rather than for rent, 
to address equity issues.
    Section 3 of the discussion draft would require each Secretary 
concerned to coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
Secretary of Defense to develop educational and public awareness 
materials to disseminate to members of the Armed Forces and veterans 
regarding recreation opportunities on Federal lands that are free of 
charge, volunteer opportunities, availability and location of trails 
for users of all abilities, adaptive equipment assistance, health 
benefits of outdoor recreation, and programs and jobs focused on 
continuing national service such as the Public Land Corps, AmeriCorps, 
and conservation corps programs.
    The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), enacted in 
2004, authorizes the Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of 
Reclamation to collect and retain recreation fees and requires most of 
the recreation fee revenues to be spent at the sites where they are 
collected to enhance the visitor experience and directly benefit 
visitors that use those sites. Section 4 of the discussion draft would 
exempt Veterans, Gold Star Families, and Members of the Armed Forces 
and their dependents from any type of recreation fees, including 
standard amenity recreation fees, expanded amenity recreation fees, and 
special recreation permit fees. This provision would apply to all 
noncommercial recreation fees at all Forest Service-operated sites, as 
well as to commercial special recreation permit fees for recreation 
events and outfitting and guiding. Fees at concessioner-operated 
federally owned recreation sites would remain unchanged by this 
discussion draft because FLREA does not apply to recreation use fees 
charged by concessioners under other authorities. Aspects of this 
section would further advance the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks 
Act, which President Biden signed into law in 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-81, 
Sec. 641), by giving members of the Armed Forces and veterans free 
passes that are honored at thousands of Federal recreation sites 
nation-wide.
    Additionally, Section 4 of the discussion draft would require the 
Secretaries to issue a special recreation permit to veterans 
organizations in areas where there is no limited entry permit system 
and capacity is available; would require the Secretaries to waive the 
requirement for a special recreation permit for veterans organizations 
based on a finding of nominal effects; and would preclude the 
Secretaries from requiring a permit or reservation for a picnic area if 
the public is not required to obtain a permit or reservation for the 
area. Section 4 also would provide that service days allocated to 
outfitters and guides would not be applied to recreation events 
conducted by veterans' organizations in the area.
    The goals of Section 4 generally align with USDA's Equity Action 
Plan, which promotes access to recreation and outdoor experiences by 
underserved communities. However, it is important to consider a 
balanced approach and the impact of recreation fee waivers for all 
recreation opportunities on Federal land management agencies' ability 
to offer the high-quality recreation services the public has come to 
expect. On the one hand, the Agency is proud to waive standard amenity 
recreation fees to veterans and members of Gold Star families pursuant 
to current law. On the other hand, commercial special recreation 
permits authorize business opportunities on Federal lands and are 
appropriately subject to a special recreation permit fee. The Forest 
Service relies on recreation fee revenues derived from FLREA for basic 
operations, to prevent its recreation sites from becoming part of its 
deferred maintenance backlog, to better manage Federal lands under its 
jurisdiction, and to respond quickly to changes in visitation levels. 
There would be financial impacts from the waiver on concessioners' 
business operations as well that should be considered. Special use 
permit fee waivers could result in inability to provide appropriate 
staffing to respond to visitor needs, particularly at units with large 
active duty or veteran populations, potentially resulting in unintended 
outcomes. USDA would like to work with the discussion draft sponsor and 
Subcommittee on technical improvements and clarifications to Section 4 
of the discussion draft as there could be significant financial impacts 
on commercial recreation service providers. It would be important to 
minimize any real or perceived differences in treatment from other 
permitted user groups, including those aimed at supporting other 
populations with vocational or rehabilitative needs.
    Section 5 of the MVP Act would seek to promote military and veteran 
outdoor recreation through partnerships, including authority to provide 
financial and technical assistance. Section 6 of the discussion draft 
would require the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior jointly 
to develop a strategy within one year of enactment to increase visits 
to Federal recreational lands by members of the Armed Forces, veterans, 
and Gold Star Families.
    Section 7 of the discussion draft would require representation for 
veteran organizations on Recreation Resource Advisory Committees 
(RRACs). USDA questions the need for Section 7 given that RRACs are 
focused on making recommendations about proposed recreation fees and 
Section 4 would exempt veterans from paying those fees.
    Section 8 would encourage the hiring of veterans in all positions 
related to management of Federal lands and would require the Secretary 
concerned to establish a new program or expand an existing program to 
recruit, train, and accept members of the Armed Forces and veterans as 
volunteers on Federal recreational lands. USDA supports the intent of 
these provisions as they would provide an opportunity to create a new 
program, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, for targeting 
outreach to service members and veterans as well as forging new paths 
to hiring in Federal land management agencies. We would be interested 
in discussing changes to the Public Land Corp Act with the sponsor and 
Subcommittee to advance these pathways.
Conclusion

    USDA strongly supports the goals of the discussion draft to benefit 
active-duty military personnel and their families as well as veterans. 
We do, however, have concerns about financial and programmatic impacts 
of the discussion draft. This discussion draft would not be revenue-
neutral compared to existing statutory authority, and we would like to 
work with the bill sponsor and Subcommittee to minimize revenue 
impacts. Additionally, we would like to work with the discussion draft 
sponsor, the Subcommittee, and our partner land management agencies 
regarding improvements to the discussion draft that could aid the 
agencies in administering affected programs more efficiently and 
equitably. Finally, FLREA is not permanent, and if this discussion 
draft were enacted, elements of its implementation could be affected if 
FLREA expired. The Administration's FY 2024 budget proposes 
appropriations language to extend the authorization of FLREA through 
2025.
    That concludes my testimony, Mr. Chairman. I would be happy to 
answer any questions you or the other members have for me.

                                 ______
                                 

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Ms. Emanuel. I am now going to 
recognize Members for 5 minutes for questions.
    Representative Stauber, you have 5 minutes.
    Mr. Stauber. Mr. Chair, thank you for holding this meeting. 
I want to thank you for convening this hearing today, as well 
as for the bills' sponsors for putting forth these important 
pieces of legislation.
    We owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who wear 
the cloth of this country, along with the families that are 
forced to sacrifice in their everyday lives to enable their 
loved ones to serve. One very small step that we can take to 
thank these heroes is ensuring that they have access to our 
public and Federal lands, and are able to enjoy the wonderful 
benefits these lands have to offer. That is why I am happy to 
support a number of the bills before us today.
    The district that I represent includes significant public 
lands such as the Superior National Forest, the Chippewa 
National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, and Grand Portage 
National Park. The public lands in Minnesota play such an 
important role in enabling us to live our way of life.
    Unfortunately, the Federal Government and the bureaucracy 
that exert control over public lands often do not make it easy 
for my constituents to enjoy these resources. Often out-of-
touch bureaucrats living in Washington push administrative 
policies that hinder our access.
    Time and time again, I have urged our colleagues at the 
Forest Service, the National Park Service, and other Federal 
agencies to vigorously engage our local communities rather than 
simply dictate to them from Washington. Our active duty service 
members, veterans, and their families, particularly, should not 
face hurdles or difficulties in accessing and enjoying our 
public lands. We should be keeping these interests in our 
minds.
    It is important that our public lands actually serve the 
public and the communities where they are located. That is why 
I am happy to see several of these bills build collaboration 
with our local communities, allowing the American people closer 
control and access to our public lands.
    I want to thank my colleague from Virginia, Representative 
Kiggans, for putting forth the Military and Veterans in Parks 
Act, which would better enable our military and veterans to 
access our public lands. In particular, I appreciate this 
legislation's focus on collaboration and partnerships with 
service member and veterans organizations, as well as state, 
local, tribal, and private-sector stakeholders.
    It is through these partnerships that the National Park 
Service, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management 
can build off the incredible work already being conducted by 
our constituents in the communities we represent. That includes 
the work of organizations like Veterans on the Lake in Ely, 
Minnesota. Veterans on the Lake provides the opportunity for 
our veterans and their families to enjoy and recreate in the 
Superior National Forest in northeast Minnesota. Thanks to the 
work of this organization, hundreds of veterans and their 
families are able to boat, fish, swim, ski, and snowmobile. 
Veterans on the Lake ensures that all individuals, no matter 
their physical abilities, are able to participate in these 
activities.
    I am hopeful that Representative Kiggans' legislation will 
help enable and replicate programs and initiatives like 
Veterans on the Lake on public lands across our great nation. 
Frankly, I believe the role of our Federal agencies is to get 
out of the way and, instead, partner with these local 
communities, enable them to provide these services and 
opportunities.
    Our Federal agencies do not need to reinvent the wheel. 
They can build on the progress that great organizations like 
Veterans on the Lake in my district already are doing, and I 
believe Representative Kiggans' proposed legislation is a great 
opportunity to do just that.
    Mr. Chair, I yield back.
    Mr. Tiffany. The gentleman yields, and now I would like to 
recognize the Ranking Member, Mr. Levin, for 5 minutes.
    Mr. Levin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Mr. Lands, I will start with you. Thank you for your 
feedback on the GROW Act. I appreciate DOI's commitment to 
employing veterans and military spouses under current programs, 
and support for scaling up these efforts through the pilot that 
we are proposing in the GROW Act.
    My office received technical assistance on this bill from 
your staff in May regarding the timing challenges referenced in 
your testimony. As we move this bill forward through the 
legislative process, I would be glad to accept DOI's 
recommendations to extend the initial briefing deadline to 180 
days after enactment, and strike the requirement for 
legislative recommendations as part of the initial briefing.
    However, I believe it is important to keep the 
implementation briefing at 12 months after the pilot commences 
so that Congress receives an update at the pilot's midpoint. 
Does this sound fair, and do you have any outstanding concerns 
about that?
    Mr. Lands. Thank you for the question. At this point, I do 
not have the information to actually provide a yes or no answer 
on that. But I certainly will take it back to the staff, and we 
are committed to working with your staff to make sure that we 
are looking at the appropriate timelines.
    Mr. Levin. Thank you. I appreciate that, and we will 
definitely follow up on that with you and continue the dialogue 
with you.
    Ms. Emanuel, I will turn to you. The GROW Act was 
originally introduced last Congress by my friend, Conor Lamb, 
to establish a pilot program to employ veterans at both DOI and 
at USDA. Conor was kind enough to allow me to take up the 
mantle on this bill following his retirement--it seems like he 
is too young to have retired--but his retirement from Congress, 
and I decided to break it up into two separate proposals, 
starting with the Department of the Interior.
    While the version of this bill that Conor had differs from 
ours, and the portion dealing with the USDA workforce hasn't 
been introduced yet, I would be remiss if I didn't take the 
opportunity to seek feedback from you, since you are here. Do 
you have any initial thoughts you can share on a potential USDA 
analogue of the GROW Act?
    Ms. Emanuel. Thank you for that question. While I was 
invited here to speak on MVP and H.R. 1829, I do know that we 
would welcome any opportunity we have to work with you on a 
pilot that employs veterans, so we would be happy to engage 
with staff and provide technical assistance or testimony on it 
in the future.
    Mr. Levin. Fantastic. We will follow up with both of you. 
We really appreciate your expertise on this as we work to get 
this right.
    With that, Mr. Chairman, I will yield back.
    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Mr. Levin.
    Mrs. Peltola, would you like to be recognized for 5 minutes 
for questioning?
    Mrs. Peltola. Could you come back to me in just a minute?
    Mr. Tiffany. I certainly can, absolutely.
    Mrs. Peltola. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Mr. Tiffany. Ms. Emanuel, the Forest Service currently has 
a maintenance backlog of about $7.7 billion. Will the 
conveyance such as the one directed by Representative Crane's 
legislation help the agency reduce its maintenance backlog?
    Ms. Emanuel. I suppose it is possible that it would help.
    We want to ensure that we convey that property in the best 
condition possible, and take care of the archeological 
resources that we know exist, and bring those to resolution 
with it, and we are retaining some of that land for the use of 
firefighting and other emergency operations. But transferring 
that land in a good condition is in the best interest of the 
United States.
    Mr. Tiffany. Would it allow you to focus resources in other 
areas by doing that?
    Ms. Emanuel. It would.
    Mr. Tiffany. The Forest Service published a research paper 
that I would like to enter into the record.

    Without objection, so ordered.

    [The information follows:]

The full paper can be found on the Committee Repository at:

https://docs.house.gov/meetings/II/II10/20230720/116216/HHRG-
118-II10-20230720-SD003.pdf

    Mr. Tiffany. The paper found that public lands were ideal 
venues to increase outdoor recreation opportunities for 
veterans. Despite the importance of our public lands, this 
research found that efforts to promote veterans recreation 
among Federal land managers were ad hoc and lacked a cohesive 
strategy.
    Do you believe the MVP Act will help the Forest Service 
elevate veterans' recreation as a priority nationwide, and 
enhance the agency's overall strategy for increasing 
recreational access?
    Ms. Emanuel. I appreciate that question. Absolutely. This 
promotion of partnerships that specifically can be in service 
to veterans and their families and active military, and having 
some structure, focus, and strategy around it will just help us 
replicate those types of activities that we already know are 
serving them well across the nation.
    So, I really do believe that this is an important part of 
us reimagining our recreation and joining stakeholders to 
create those opportunities.
    Mr. Tiffany. Mr. Lands, Quinn Brett, a former National Park 
Service employee who specialized in outdoor recreation, 
recently stated in an article that the National Park Service's 
trails haven't been measured probably since the beginning of 
time to determine whether they meet accessibility criteria. 
What is the Park Service currently doing to measure trails to 
determine whether they are suitable for adaptive recreation, 
and how could the MVP Act help bolster those efforts?
    Mr. Lands. Sir, right now, across the nation, we have 
21,000 miles of trails and a portion of that, obviously, is 
accessible to disabled and those that have difficulty.
    I think, right now, although we do not have a national 
understanding of what our accessible trails are, we do have 
good numbers throughout the parks. And each park actually 
describes on their website what accessible trails are 
available, and what accessible utilities and facilities are 
available. I think this Act would help us as an agency to pull 
that information together, and I think there is benefit to 
that.
    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, and I yield and recognize Mrs. 
Peltola for 5 minutes.
    Mrs. Peltola. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I think you kind 
of asked this and kind of answered this, but you do have 
adaptive trails right now in all of our parks, is that correct?
    Mr. Lands. Most of the parks.
    Mrs. Peltola. Most of the parks.
    Mr. Lands. Most of our parks have accessible trails. Many 
of the park units that we described before are historic in 
nature, and therefore would not have the acreage to potentially 
provide accessible trails. But many of the parks that are more 
of our natural resources and land base do have accessible 
trails.
    I was just recently at a park in Golden Gate and had the 
ability to walk around and see how they are providing access 
not only to veterans and disabled veterans, but also our 
disabled population.
    Mrs. Peltola. Just as a follow-up, Mr. Chairman, do you 
have anything online that helps park-goers see in advance if 
they have accessibility?
    Mr. Lands. We do. First of all, every park generally has 
information on accessible trails, and then we also have a 
website that specifically identifies those parks, and 
highlights which parks have accessibility trails and other 
features.
    Mrs. Peltola. OK, and I just think it is wonderful that 
your last name is Lands and you are in this field.
    [Laughter.]
    Mr. Lands. Thank you, ma'am.
    Mrs. Peltola. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Mr. Tiffany. Yes, that is a good note. Next, I would like 
to recognize Ms. Porter for 5 minutes.
    Ms. Porter. Thank you very much.
    Mr. Lands, I had a hearing on public lands accessibility 
about 2 years ago when I was Chair of the Subcommittee on 
Oversight and Investigations within the Natural Resources 
Committee. And one of the things that the witnesses said, and I 
would love if you could comment on this, is that a lot of the 
design choices and features that we might make to improve 
accessibility are also things that are consistent with good 
conservation choices and, generally, more flexible use of 
parks.
    For example, the grade that trails need to be to permit 
people to use wheelchairs or assistive walking devices on is 
also the same grade that they recommend to prevent soil 
erosion, and that some of the things around picnic tables, for 
example, and making them wheelchair accessible also help people 
who have kids and bring high chairs to campgrounds.
    Can you comment on the sometimes argument that we hear that 
we have to make a choice between making things accessible and 
delivering on the mission of conservation of the National Park 
Service?
    Mr. Lands. Yes, ma'am, I agree with you. Many of the 
accessibility features that we provided within our trails also 
meet some of our other requirements, and are designed 
specifically to do that. And I leave that to the very capable 
and smart engineers that we have working for the National Park 
Service, to look at those things that cross-cut against not 
only making sure that we have accessibility to disabled, but 
reducing impacts to the environment and also reducing costs and 
looking for sustainability options.
    So, those opportunities do exist. They are out there, and 
we are working hard to make sure we incorporate those into our 
national parks.
    Ms. Porter. Ms. Emanuel, would you have anything to add?
    Ms. Emanuel. We also incorporate a universal design in our 
approach to providing outdoor experiences, and build in 
accessibility through our landscape architecture that we have 
professionally nationwide, just as a standard practice.
    Ms. Porter. Yes, because I think one of the things is that 
there is sort of this understanding of, and I think the poster 
here really illustrates kind of some of what people think of as 
disability, which may be people who have severe or very limited 
or need additional mobility capacity. But we are also talking 
about parks that are seeing a wider range. People are staying 
active later in life. We saw many more people with young 
children begin to use the parks.
    So, I think, when we think about making the parks more 
accessible, we have to recognize that it is something that we 
actually do for all of us, because all of us at different 
stages and places in our lives will benefit from these 
accessibility features. When you lower things for people, for 
instance, who may use a wheelchair, you also make it possible 
for the 5-year-old to use that drinking fountain. And as a mom, 
I appreciated that. And when you have sensory things for people 
who maybe are visually impaired, those are also things that 
work well for kids and for learning.
    So, I just want to emphasize that I think this bill and 
this approach is a win for all Americans, and I hope we can 
approach it from that matter. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, 
and I yield back.
    Mr. Tiffany. The gentlelady yields. Mr. Crane, do you wish 
to ask any questions?
    OK. Well, thank you for your testimony and answering these 
questions today. We appreciate it very much, and we will now 
move on to our third panel. I would like to thank both of the 
witnesses for their valuable testimony.
    While the Clerk resets our witness table, I will remind the 
witnesses that under Committee Rules, they must limit their 
oral statements to 5 minutes, but their entire statement will 
appear in the hearing record.
    I would also like to remind our witnesses of the timing 
lights, which will turn red at the end of your 5-minute 
statement, and to please remember to turn on your microphone.
    As with the second panel, I will allow all witnesses to 
testify before Member questioning.
    Just a note to those that are coming up. We are going to be 
going to votes soon, but we will get started here, and we will 
come back if those votes get called before all of you get a 
chance to give your testimony.
    First of all, I am going to introduce the Honorable Woody 
Cline. He is the District 3 Supervisor for Gila County, 
Arizona.
    Mr. Cline, I hope you are able to get settled in there.
    I apologize, Mr. Cline, you have a much more esteemed 
person to introduce you than myself, and that would be your 
Representative, Mr. Eli Crane.

    Mr. Crane. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Clearly, that is not 
true, but I appreciate you allowing me to introduce my guest 
today.
    Thank you, Mr. Cline, for appearing today before this 
Committee, and also for your leadership on this bill.
    Mr. Cline was elected as Gila County Supervisor in 2016, 
and is a fourth-generation Gila County resident who resides in 
Young, Arizona. He was born in Globe, Arizona, and raised in 
Young, Arizona, and is the first resident to be elected to the 
Board of Supervisors.
    As a member of the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Cline 
also serves on the National Association of Counties, Coalition 
of Arizona and New Mexico Counties, San Carlos Apache Tribe 
Partnership Steering Committee, Gila County Board of Health, 
and the Correctional Officers Retirement Plan Local Board for 
Gila County Sheriff Office Dispatchers.
    Formerly, Woody was the 2016-2018 President of the Gila 
County Cattle Growers Association, and serves on the Board of 
Directors for the Arizona Cattle Growers Association. He has 
spent 19-plus years with the U.S. Forest Service working in 
fire and range management, and his understanding of public land 
usage and management is a valuable addition to the Board of 
Supervisors.
    Woody, thank you for leaving your beautiful ranch, and wife 
Letha, and three daughters to come chat with us today. We 
really appreciate it, and admire your determination to get this 
legislation passed.
    Mr. Tiffany. Mr. Cline, you have 5 minutes.

  STATEMENT OF THE HON. WOODY CLINE, SUPERVISOR, GILA COUNTY, 
                            ARIZONA

    Mr. Cline. Thank you, Mr. Chair and Committee members, and 
thank you, Representative Crane, for that. That was very nice.
    I appreciate the opportunity to testify on H.R. 1829 to ask 
the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley 
Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County.
    I would like to commend the bill's sponsor, Representative 
Eli Crane, for championing this bill, it is a very good bill, 
and for introducing it to legislation, and recognizing the 
uniqueness of the area and its many outstanding resources that 
could benefit our veterans.
    As Mr. Crane had said, I took office in 2017, at which time 
I started this project for Gila County. It has been in the 
works ever since then. We have come through many, many hurdles 
and obstacles to get to this point, and it is a very well-worth 
project.
    The project consists of 232 acres on this administrative 
site there in Young. It is surrounded by three sides of 
private, and the back side by public lands. It is very pretty. 
It has been an admin site since the early 1900s, and then in 
most recent years it was combined with another ranger district, 
in which case all the staff members and people from that site 
were moved to Payson, Arizona, to the other district to work 
out of that.
    The location is in Young, which is a remote, small town in 
Arizona in about the center of Gila County, a little more 
towards the north. There are about 800 to 1,000 full-time 
residents there. The closest towns to Young, Arizona are 
Payson, which is 65 miles, and Globe, which is about 70 miles 
from Young. Very quiet town. Not a lot of activities there, so 
it really fits for a project like this.
    Through the years we have held many meetings on this site, 
not only with the delegation but also with local governments 
and town hall meetings, as well. Never once through the 6\1/2\ 
years we have been involved with this site have we ever found 
any anyone opposed to the site. Everyone has been more than 
supportive of it. The only the only issues we ever had was just 
the process of getting to this point.
    The site has a 6,000-square-foot administrative building, 
two brick residences, two sets of barracks, a historic ranger 
office, a historic ranger house, a historic barn, helipads, and 
a well and wastewater systems. The three historic sites are on 
the National Historic Register and SHPO out of Arizona has been 
consulted. All that has been gone through, and we are excited 
to take on the responsibility of keeping those sites up and 
pristine to what they were in the past.
    As time went by, we went ahead and pursued a special use 
permit with the Forest Service to take occupancy of this site. 
And what that did was that allowed us to go in there and go 
ahead and start maintaining the site and working on it.
    Today, the county has invested a little over $2 million on 
the site. We have a partnership with the Forest Service to 
support and keep up all the infrastructure on it. Our first 
stage is complete. Our next stage is getting ready to start, 
and that is going to be about $3 million project on our next 
stage for the site.
    We had this go through the County Supervisors Association. 
All 15 counties in Arizona supported it.
    With that, I would yield back and entertain any questions, 
and thank you, Mr. Chair, for having me.

    [The prepared statement of Mr. Cline follows:]

   Prepared Statement of Woody Cline, Gila County Arizona Supervisor
                              on H.R. 1829

    Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate the 
opportunity to testify on H.R. 1829, to require the Secretary of 
Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District 
Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona. I would like to commend 
the bill's sponsor, Rep. Eli Crane, R-AZ for introducing this 
legislation and for recognizing the uniqueness of the area and its many 
outstanding resources that could benefit our veterans.

Project Description

    Gila County proposes to provide a peaceful respite for veterans and 
their families in a beautiful retreat-like facility in Young, Arizona. 
The subject property consists of 232 acres of pristine land along with 
a number of buildings for meetings and overnight accommodations.

Project Location

    The project location is in Young, Arizona. The nearest cities to 
Young are Payson, 60 miles to the northwest, and Globe/Miami 65 miles 
to the south. From the Phoenix area, Young is about 150 miles away and 
typically takes 2.5 to 3 hours by vehicle. The site is a former Tonto 
National Forest (TNF) Administrative Site for the Payson/Pleasant 
Valley Ranger District. In 2016 the TNF began moving out of the 
facility and re-located to Payson where a new administrative site was 
built.
    In 2017, Gila County began talks with TNF staff for the ownership 
of the property to be transferred to Gila County. During the many 
discussions with TNF staff, they admitted that eventually the buildings 
on the property would be ``bull-dozed'' due to a lack of maintenance 
funds. County staff along with myself determined that the best way to 
protect the site and buildings was to seek ownership. One of the 
buildings that would have been bulldozed included a 6,000 square foot 
administrative office building built in 2001 and occupied in 2002.

Public Participation

    Many discussions were held with county staff, community members and 
leaders regarding the re-use of the site. Early on, it was determined 
that it would be the ideal place to provide a retreat-like facility for 
veterans and their families that need a peaceful respite for healing 
and re-connection.

Background

    Meetings were held with the Tonto National Forest Supervisor, Neil 
Bosworth as well as United States Forest Service Chief Vicki 
Christensen and Deputy Chris French in Washington, DC. I also held 
discussions and sought advice from Congressional staff to determine the 
best path for the county to obtain ownership and have the site along 
with buildings, transferred to Gila County. It was determined that a 
bill needed to be written and presented to both the House and the 
Senate in order to start the transfer of ownership. In 2020 Tonto 
National Forest Service Supervisor Neil Bosworth suggested a 20-year 
Special Use Permit in order for Gila County to begin the development of 
the site into a Veterans Camp/Retreat and provide the much-needed 
maintenance of buildings and land. The property contains a number of 
structures and an RV park that will are a part of the project:

     6,000 square foot administrative building

     2 brick residences

     2 sets of barracks (can sleep 10 each with kitchens)

     Historic Ranger Office

     Historic Ranger House

     Historic barn

     Heli pads

     Well and wastewater system

    The three historic structures are listed on the National Historic 
Register of Historic Places. That fact prompted a consultation with the 
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and that consultation was 
held in April 2020. The consultation included an assessment of the 
current condition of the buildings and advice from SHPO regarding the 
maintenance and restoration of the buildings. A plan was developed by 
County staff and submitted to the SHPO in May 2020 and approved in June 
2020. The Special Use Permit could not be approved without the SHPO 
consultation.
    Once SHPO approved the county's plan regarding the historic 
structures, the next step was to develop an Operating Plan that was 
submitted to the TNF for consultation and approval. The Operating Plan 
was approved in May 2021. Gila County wholeheartedly accepts the 
responsibility of the preservation of these historic structures.
    The Special Use Permit was developed by TNF staff and presented to 
Gila County. The Special Use Permit and supporting documents was 
approved by the Gila County Board of Supervisors on July 27, 2021 and 
signed by the Tonto National Forest Supervisor on July 28, 2021.
    On March 28, 2023, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced Bill H.R. 1829 
and on March 28,2023 Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Senator Kyrsten 
Sinema (D-AZ) to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District 
Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.
    On February 6, 2023, Arizona State Legislator, Rep. David Marshall 
(R) introduced HB 2725 (appropriation; Department of Veteran Services 
to appropriate $1M of state general fund money to Gila County for the 
Pleasant Valley Veterans Retreat. During the course of the State budget 
process, the amount increased from $1M to $3M. The bill was included in 
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D) final state budget.
Gila County Commitment to Project

    The Gila County Board of Supervisors and county staff fully support 
this project. The County is committed to being good stewards of the 
beautiful land and buildings included on the site. Prior to the lease 
being in place, the historic buildings were cleaned and ``rodent 
proofed'' (with Tonto National Forest (TNF) approval) in order to 
protect them from further damage. Without the County's involvement the 
historic structures and other buildings would have fallen into 
disrepair and eventually would have been removed by the Forest Service 
due to a lack of maintenance funds.
    Included in the Special Use Permit is the condition that the TNF 
may offset all or part of the permit fee by the amount paid by the 
holder for renovation, reconditioning, improvement, and maintenance 
deemed to be the government's responsibility, pursuant to Granger-Thye 
Fee Offset, 16 U.S.C. 580d. Gila County has accepted that 
responsibility.
    The Gila County Board of Supervisors approved an allocation of $2.5 
million to the project and to date $1.6 million has been contracted and 
$200,000 has been invested in the water and wastewater treatment 
system. The water and wastewater system also supports the Tonto 
National Forest's outlying Fire Station (still located on the site but 
not included in the 232 acres) for fire suppression.
    The transfer of ownership to the County will ensure that this 
beautiful property will be protected and maintained preserving its rich 
history in the community of Young and Gila County.
Gila County Vision:
    We believe in the Family Unit and its ability to heal. We support 
military service members by reconnecting the family unit through a 
holistic approach within nature, while connecting the family unit with 
resources and programs.
Framework for Veterans Retreat:
    As listed above, there are several buildings on the site that will 
be remodeled to provide the ultimate experience for veterans and their 
families.
    The current administration building will become the ``Main Lodge'' 
that will provide a check in area, meeting space, game and resource 
rooms. A Veteran Ceremonial Grounds will be included at the Main Lodge 
as well. Also included, will be family housing, playground areas, 
walking trails sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, gym & activity 
center.
Improvements Completed
    The administration building has been completed and is ready to 
accept veteran events and to facilitate services.
    The two existing barracks have been remodeled to include new 
kitchens and bathrooms and will house 10 veterans per night. A large 
common area in each of the barracks will provide a gathering place for 
group meetings or relaxing.
    The two brick residences have been remodeled and will be available 
for families or individuals to occupy on a limited basis.
    The RV Park has been upgraded and will provide 7 campsites for 
groups, families or individuals.
Future Planned Improvements
    The Historic Ranger residence and the Historic District Office will 
be remodeled and will expand on the overnight options for families. Our 
vision includes a ``Family Reconnect'' program for families in crisis 
or families needing to reconnect after a parent has returned from a 
deployment.
    Also in the planning stages is the construction of an event center 
that will provide a commercial kitchen and dining area as well as areas 
for recreational activities and meeting space. And in addition, a 
handicapped accessible house will be built to accommodate disabled 
individuals.
Statewide Support
    As I previously mentioned, we have had bi-partisan support for this 
project. Rep. David Marshal (R) introduced H.R. 2725 and Governor Katie 
Hobbs (D) included the bill in the State's budget.
    On January 19, 2023, the County Supervisors Association, an 
association that includes all 15 Arizona counties passed Resolution 
Number 1-23 in support of the Pleasant Valley Veterans Retreat.
    The bills introduced in Congress include a bill co-sponsored by our 
Arizona Senators Kelly and Sinema, both Democrats and Rep. Eli Crane 
our Republican. Crane and Kelly are both veterans and recognize the 
importance of a retreat for veterans and the re-purposing of this 
federal land.
    This concludes my testimony. Thank you for the opportunity to 
discuss this important issue and I would be willing to answer any 
questions you may have.

                                 ______
                                 

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you very much, Mr. Cline. Now, I would 
like to recognize Ms. Lisa Wilson, Deputy Director of 
Engineering and Operations, Utah Department of Transportation.
    Ms. Wilson, you have 5 minutes.

 STATEMENT OF LISA WILSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND 
OPERATIONS, UTAH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SALT LAKE CITY, 
                              UTAH

    Ms. Wilson. Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Levin, and 
distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the 
opportunity to testify on behalf of H.R. 2468, the Mountain 
View Corridor Completion Act.
    Speaking on behalf of the Utah Department of 
Transportation, we are very grateful to Representative Owens 
for sponsoring this bill.
    The purpose of Representative Owens' bill is to authorize 
the Bureau of Land Management to transfer or sell three small 
parcels of Federal land to Utah. These parcels are within the 
boundaries of Camp Williams, Utah.
    [Slide.]
    Ms. Wilson. If I could draw your attention to Slide 1, this 
map shows the perimeter of Camp Williams. It is a large, active 
military training installation created by an Executive Order of 
President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, which withdrew over 18,000 
acres of Federal public land for use by the military.
    Today, the camp is used primarily by the Utah National 
Guard, and is also the location of a large National Security 
Agency data center. Camp Williams is located about 25 miles 
south of Salt Lake City, which straddles the border between 
Salt Lake County and Utah County, two of Utah's most populous 
counties. From time to time over the last 100 years, Congress 
has authorized transfers of land between the Federal Government 
and Utah related to Camp Williams. Camp Williams has grown to 
encompass approximately 20,000 acres of Federal land and 4,000 
acres of land owned by the state of Utah.
    This bill would authorize Utah to purchase 36 unused acres 
of the Federal 20,000 acres of Camp Williams. These small 
parcels are needed to complete a critical Utah highway project 
called the Mountain View Corridor.
    To briefly give you a sense of importance, according to the 
2020 U.S. Census Bureau report, Utah's population is growing at 
the fastest rate of any state in the nation. That growth 
continues, particularly along the heavily populated Wasatch 
Front in Salt Lake and Utah Counties, where well over half of 
Utah citizens reside.
    One impact of that growth is Redwood Road, the only road 
that connects Western Salt Lake and Utah Counties, and which 
operates over a right-of-way through Camp Williams, has 
experienced dramatic increases in traffic volume from both the 
general public and the military. This road has historically 
provided the only public access to the Utah National Guard 
Headquarters, as well as the data center.
    To address this growth, about 15 years ago the Utah 
Department of Transportation (UDOT) began the construction of 
what Utahns call the Mountain View Corridor, an important 35-
mile highway between Salt Lake and Utah Counties.
    [Slide.]
    Ms. Wilson. Slide 2 shows the location of Mountain View 
Corridor.
    From the beginning of this project, UDOT has worked closely 
with the Utah National Guard, as well as the Bureau of Land 
Management, on securing the necessary land rights to 
accommodate the project's alignment. Both entities have been 
very cooperative. However, we need congressional help to 
complete the last few miles of the Mountain View Corridor.
    [Slide.]
    Ms. Wilson. Slide 3 shows the completed portions of the 
Mountain View Corridor in blue and the uncompleted portion in 
orange.
    While most of the yet-to-be-completed roadway will traverse 
state land, including some of the state-owned portion of Camp 
Williams, three triangular-shaped pieces of property that the 
highway would impact are irregular parcels of Federal land 
administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
    [Slide.]
    Ms. Wilson. While these parcels, as shown in Slide 4, are 
located entirely within the boundary of Camp Williams, neither 
the BLM nor the Utah National Guard actively use or manage 
these parcels.
    Because of President Woodrow Wilson's Executive Order, the 
Bureau of Land Management considers these parcels to be under 
the indefinite active control and management of the military 
and will not transfer the parcels to Utah without congressional 
authorization. As I previously mentioned, the National Guard 
has been cooperative throughout the process and supports 
completing the Mountain View Corridor. We have included in the 
materials provided to this Committee, a copy of a letter of 
support from the Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard, 
Major General Taylor Michael Turley.
    In closing, UDOT is confident that completion of the final 
phase of the Mountain View Corridor is in the best interest of 
the public safety in this fast-growing part of Utah, and urges 
the passage of H.R. 2468, the Mountain View Corridor Completion 
Act.
    Thank you for your time today.

    [The prepared statement of Ms. Wilson follows:]
 Prepared Statement of Lisa J. Wilson, Deputy Director of Engineering 
           and Operations, Utah Department of Transportation
                              on H.R. 2468

    Dear Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Neguse, Vice Chair Curtis, 
and distinguished members of the Federal Lands Subcommittee: On behalf 
of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), thank you for 
providing the opportunity to testify in support of H.R. 2468, Mountain 
View Corridor Completion Act. We also express gratitude to 
Representative Burgess Owens for sponsoring this important legislation.
    The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Bureau of Land 
Management to transfer or sell three small parcels of federal land to 
Utah. These parcels are located within the boundaries of Camp Williams, 
Utah. The land will be used by UDOT to complete an important highway 
project that will benefit not just Utah citizens, but also members of 
the military who utilize Camp Williams.
    Camp Williams is a large active military training installation 
created by an Executive Order of President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. That 
order withdrew over 18,000 acres of federal public land for use by the 
military. Today, the camp is used primarily by the Utah National Guard 
and is also the location of a large National Security Agency data 
center.
    Camp Williams is located about 25 miles south of Salt Lake City, 
Utah and straddles the border between Salt Lake County and Utah County, 
which are Utah's two most populous counties.
    From time to time over the last one-hundred years, Congress has 
authorized transfers of land between the federal government and Utah 
related to Camp Williams, and Camp Williams has grown to encompass 
approximately 20,000 acres of federal land and 4,000 acres of land 
owned by the State of Utah. [See Ex. 1.]
    Representative Owens' bill would authorize Utah to purchase 36 
acres of the federal 20,000 acres of Camp Williams land. These small 
parcels are needed to complete a critical Utah highway project, called 
the Mountain View Corridor.
    According to the 2020 United States Census Bureau report, Utah's 
population is growing at the fastest rate of any state in the nation. 
That growth continues, particularly along the heavily populated Wasatch 
Front in Salt Lake County and Utah County where well over half of Utah 
citizens reside.
    One impact of that growth is that Redwood Road, the only road that 
connects western Salt Lake County and western Utah County, and which 
operates over a right-of-way through Camp Williams, has experienced 
dramatic increases in traffic volume from both the general public and 
the military. This road has historically provided the only public 
access to the Utah National Guard Headquarters area as well as the NSA 
data center.
    To address this growth, beginning fifteen years ago, UDOT began the 
planning and construction of what Utahns call the Mountain View 
Corridor--an important 35-mile highway between Salt Lake County and 
Utah County. [See Ex. 2.]
    From the beginning of this project, UDOT has worked closely with 
the Utah National Guard as well as the Bureau of Land Management on 
securing the necessary land rights to accommodate the project's 
expansion alignment. Both entities have been very cooperative with 
UDOT, and the first two phases of the project have been completed. This 
needed project is already significantly increasing capacity and 
improving public safety for both the general public and the military.
    However, Utah needs Congressional help to complete the last few 
southern miles of the Mountain View Corridor. [See Ex. 3] While most of 
the yet-to-be completed roadway will traverse state land, including 
some of the state-owned portion of Camp Williams, three triangular-
shaped pieces of property that the highway would impact are irregular 
parcels of federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. 
While these parcels are located entirely within the boundaries of Camp 
Williams, neither the BLM nor the Utah National Guard actively use or 
manage these parcels. [See Ex. 4.]
    Because of President Woodrow Wilson's Executive Order, the Bureau 
of Land Management considers these parcels to be under the indefinite 
active control and management of the military and will not transfer the 
parcels to Utah without Congressional authorization.
    As mentioned, the Utah National Guard has been cooperative 
throughout this process and supports completing the Mountain View 
Corridor. We have included in the materials provided to this committee 
a copy of a letter of support from the Adjutant General of the Utah 
National Guard, Major General Taylor Michael Turley. We also understand 
that Major General Turley is sending the letter to all committee 
members. [See Ex. 5.]
    UDOT is confident that completion of the final phase of the 
Mountain View Corridor is in the best interest of the public safety of 
both the military and the traveling public in this fast-growing part of 
Utah, and we respectfully urge timely passage of HR. 2468, the Mountain 
View Corridor Completion Act.
    Thank you for your consideration. At any Member's request, UDOT is 
pleased to answer any questions or to provide any additional 
information to the subcommittee.

                                 *****

                                EXHIBITS

[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]	
                                 
                                 __
                                 

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Deputy Director Wilson. I would now 
like to recognize Mr. Jeremy Villanueva, the Government Affairs 
Associate Director for the Wounded Warrior Project.
    Sir, you have 5 minutes.

 STATEMENT OF JEREMY VILLANUEVA, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ASSOCIATE 
       DIRECTOR, WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT, WASHINGTON, DC

    Mr. Villanueva. Thank you, Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member 
Levin, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee on Federal 
Lands for this opportunity to speak before you.
    Since our founding 20 years ago, Wounded Warrior Project 
has been helping post-9/11 wounded, ill, and injured veterans 
address their biggest challenges and reach their highest 
potential through impactful, no-cost programing and advocacy. 
Throughout our history we have explored new ways to tailor 
these programs to improve the mental, physical, and financial 
well-being of those we serve as effectively as possible.
    Today, I am pleased to show our support for two bills 
before you based on our service to more than 190,000 veterans 
across the country.
    First, I want to share our support for the Get Rewarding 
Outdoor Work for our Veterans Act, or the GROW for our Veterans 
Act. From our perspective, veteran employment is key to not 
just financial well-being, but also mental health. According to 
results from our 2022 Annual Warrior Survey, Wounded Warrior 
Project alumni are succeeding in finding work, but the 
unemployment rate is still higher than the U.S. veteran and 
general populations.
    For the 6.8 percent of warriors who responded that they are 
unemployed, the top reported barriers to employment were mental 
health or physical distress, difficulty translating military 
skills to the civilian workforce, and lack of education. We 
believe that the GROW for our Veterans Act can address all 
three of these factors.
    Several military occupations involve large amounts of time 
working outdoors in relatively harsh environments. These types 
of jobs leave veterans with wilderness survival skills, an 
understanding of various ecosystems, and other skills that are 
related to outdoor recreation. Despite this, GAO recently 
observed that veterans comprise a smaller proportion of 
employees in outdoor recreation positions than in the larger 
Federal workforce. Across all agencies in 2021, veterans and 
outdoor recreation positions accounted for 11 percent of the 
workforce, compared to 18 percent of all other Federal 
occupations.
    In addition to the financial benefits that would accrue 
from increasing veteran employment, outdoor work can have 
important mental health benefits, and research has shown that 
direct sunlight exposure and being in nature can lead to 
reduced depression, improve physical and psychological well-
being, social connection, resilience, and other benefits.
    The GROW for our Veterans Act requires the Department of 
the Interior and the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
collaborate for a new, 2-year pilot program to connect veterans 
with Federal jobs in conservation, resource management, and 
environmental protection.
    It would also direct VA to report to Congress, each Federal 
agency, about the best practices of its warrior training 
advancement course to help veterans find jobs during this 
pilot.
    Wounded Warrior Project proudly supports the GROW for our 
Veterans Act, and shares its vision to help veterans find 
quality Federal occupations that allow them to use their skills 
to conserve and protect our public lands. Helping veterans 
acquire the tools necessary to find meaningful employment and 
lead financially resilient lives are among our highest goals, 
and we appreciate Representative Levin for introducing this 
legislation, and urge its passage.
    In that same vein, we are pleased to share our support for 
the Military and Veterans in Parks, or the MVP Act. This bill 
would help disabled veterans, members of our Armed Forces, and 
surviving families access our nation's public lands for 
activities to improve their mental and physical health and 
well-being. The MVP Act contains several important provisions, 
but today I would like to highlight three.
    First, it would allow the creation of adaptive trails and 
adaptive recreation opportunities at each area managed by the 
Forest Service, each national park, and each area managed by 
the Bureau of Land Management.
    Second, it would create partnerships between Federal 
agencies and state, tribal, local, and private entities to 
promote outdoor recreational programs among members of the 
Armed Forces and veterans.
    And third, it would encourage these Federal agencies to 
hire veterans in all positions related to management of Federal 
recreational land.
    Among many of the warriors we serve, we have witnessed the 
benefits that being outdoors, increased movement, time in 
nature, and the opportunity for reflection has on an 
individual's health and their relationships, particularly among 
those who require adaptive equipment or services. We have heard 
from warriors seeking to relocate to areas with more 
accessibility to adaptive sports, and from caregivers sharing 
stories about how adaptive recreational activities have made 
the veterans in their lives happier, more outgoing, and more 
eager to push their perceived limits.
    We appreciate Representative Kiggans' work on this draft 
bill, and strongly encourage its introduction and passage in 
the House of Representatives.
    Wounded Warrior Project once again extends our thanks to 
the Subcommittee on Federal Lands for its dedication to our 
nation's veterans, and this concludes my testimony, and I am 
happy to answer any questions you or the members of the 
Subcommittee may have.

    [The prepared statement of Mr. Villanueva follows:]
 Prepared Statement of Jeremy Villanueva, Government Affairs Associate 
                   Director, Wounded Warrior Project
 on H.R. 1786 and Discussion Draft, H.R. ____, ``Military and Veterans 
                          in Parks (MVP) Act''

    Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Neguse, and distinguished members 
of the House Committee on Natural Resources--thank you for the 
opportunity to submit Wounded Warrior Project's views on legislation 
pending before the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
    Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) was founded to connect, serve, and 
empower our nation's wounded, ill, and injured veterans, Service 
members, and their families and caregivers. We are fulfilling this 
mission by providing more than a dozen life-changing programs and 
services to over 191,000 registered post-9/11 warriors and 48,000 of 
their family support members, continually engaging with those we serve, 
and capturing an informed assessment of the challenges this community 
faces. We are pleased to share that perspective for this hearing on 
pending legislation that would likely have a direct impact on many we 
serve.
Discussion Draft, the Military and Veterans in Parks Act

    Throughout our organizational history, WWP has explored new and 
innovative ways to offer care and support to those we serve. Across 
more than a dozen programs and services offered at no charge to 
warriors or their families, five often promote outdoor recreation in 
programming due to the multitude of health benefits from exposure to 
direct sunlight and nature: Physical Health and Wellness; Project 
Odyssey; Soldier Ride; Adaptive Sports; and the Alumni Connection 
Program. These nation-wide adaptive-capable offerings may include 
activities like biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, archery, camping, and 
snow and water sports in pursuit of improvement in social, physical, 
and mental well-being. Depending on the activity, staff experience, and 
local availability, we offer these opportunities to warriors 
independently or through a contracted vendor/organization. We have a 
comprehensive process dedicated to ensuring the quality of the event, 
accessibility for all warriors, and measurement of desired outcomes. 
These measurable outcomes include physical and mental well-being; 
improvements in physical activity, sleep, nutrition; and reductions in 
symptoms of depression and chronic pain.

    In this context, we believe that the Military and Veterans in Parks 
Act, or the MVP Act, would help disabled veterans, members of our Armed 
Forces, and surviving families access our nation's public lands for 
activities to improve their mental and physical health and well-being. 
The MVP Act includes several provisions aimed at improving access and 
accessibility for veterans including six that we would like to 
highlight:

     Allowing the creation of at least one adaptive trail and 
            at least one adaptive recreation opportunity at each area 
            managed by the Forest Service, each National Park, and each 
            area managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 
            [Section 2]

     Developing and disseminating materials for members of the 
            Armed Forces and veterans to educate on the availability 
            and location of resources to access outdoor activities in 
            the areas maintained by the Forest Service, National Parks, 
            and the BLM. [Section 3]

     Reducing amenity recreation fees and streamlining the 
            recreation permit process for members of the Armed Forces, 
            veterans, and Gold Star Families. [Section 4]

     Creating partnerships between federal agencies and state, 
            tribal, local, and private entities to promote outdoor 
            recreational programs among members of the Armed Forces and 
            veterans. [Section 5]

     Creating a joint national strategy between the Departments 
            of the Interior and of Agriculture to increase visits to 
            federal recreational lands by members of the Armed Forces, 
            veterans, and Gold Star Families. [Section 6]

     Encouraging these federal agencies to hire veterans in all 
            positions related to management of federal recreational 
            land. [Section 8]

    In March 2022, WWP offered our perspectives on outdoor recreation 
to the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans established by the 
COMPACT Act (P.L. 116-214 Sec. 203).\1\ Points raised then are still 
relevant today, including our desire to increase public awareness 
campaigns about free and discounted opportunities for veterans, expand 
the availability of adaptive trails and water entry points, explore the 
potential of veterans-preference weeks or events at National Parks, and 
improve public awareness on the mental and physical health merits of 
the outdoors, specifically for veterans. WWP believes that the MVP Act 
addresses each of these issues and would create meaningful impact for 
those we serve.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ See, Notice of Request for Information Regarding Veterans 
Outdoor Recreation, 87 FR 10,281 (Feb. 23, 2022) (WWP comment available 
at https://www.regulations.gov/comment/VA-2022-VACO-0001-0147).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Wounded Warrior Project believes in the healing and connection 
outdoor recreation can bring to veterans. We have witnessed the 
benefits that being outdoors, increased movement, time in nature, 
adoption of a new hobby, and the opportunity for reflection has on an 
individual's health and their relationships. And as more and more 
warriors experience these benefits, we have heard firsthand from 
warriors seeking to relocate to areas with more accessibility to 
adaptive sports and from caregivers sharing stories about how adaptive 
recreational activities have made the veteran in their lives happier, 
more talkative, and more eager to push their perceived limits. We 
appreciate Representative Jen Kiggans' work on this draft bill and 
strongly encourage its introduction and passage in the House of 
Representatives.
H.R. 1786, the Get Rewarding Outdoor Work for our Veterans Act

    A variety of military occupations involve large amounts of time 
working outdoors in relatively harsh environments. These types of jobs 
leave many veterans with wilderness survival skills, a keen knowledge 
of various ecosystems, and other skills that are related to outdoor 
recreation. Despite this experience, the Government Accountability 
Office (GAO) recently observed that ``[v]eterans comprised a smaller 
proportion of employees in outdoor recreation positions than in the 
larger federal workforce. For instance, veterans accounted for 11 
percent of federal outdoor recreation employees. By contrast, veterans 
made up about 18 percent of employees across all occupations at the 
corresponding agencies.'' \2\ In addition to the financial benefits 
that would accrue from increasing veteran employment, outdoor work can 
have important mental health benefits. Research has shown that direct 
sunlight exposure and being in nature can lead to reduced depression, 
improved physical and psychological well-being, social connection, 
resilience, and other benefits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ U.S. Gov't Accountability Off., GAO-23-106149, Veterans 
Employment: GI Bill Benefits Can Help Lead to Outdoor Recreation 
Careers (2023).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The GROW for our Veterans Act would establish a two-year pilot 
program to employ veterans in federal positions that relate to 
conservation, environmental protection, and resource management. The 
program would be administered by the Secretary of the Interior--in 
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Assistant 
Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training--and would 
utilize best practices from the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) 
Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC) program to help veterans 
secure employment at the Department of the Interior. WARTAC connects 
veterans with real-world job opportunities to help them gain the skills 
and experience that are helpful for finding future careers. The GROW 
for our Veterans Act would also direct VA to submit a report to 
Congress and the head of each federal agency that details the best 
practices and hiring elements of WARTAC, and Department of Labor to 
report on how best to implement these recommendations at federal 
agencies.
    Wounded Warrior Project proudly supports the GROW for our Veterans 
Act and shares its vision to help veterans find quality federal 
occupations that allow them to use their outdoors skills and passions 
to conserve and protect our public lands. We appreciate Representative 
Mike Levin for introducing this legislation and urge its passage.
Concluding Remarks

    Wounded Warrior Project once again extends our thanks to the 
Subcommittee on Federal Lands for its dedication to our nation's 
veterans. We are honored to contribute our voice to your discussion 
about pending legislation, and we are proud to support these 
initiatives under consideration that would enhance veterans' access to 
our nation's great outdoors. As your partner in advocating for these 
and other critical issues, we stand ready to assist and look forward to 
our continued collaboration.

                                 ______
                                 

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Mr. Villanueva. Next, I will 
recognize Mr. Marc Berejka, the Divisional Vice President of 
Community Advocacy and Impact for REI.
    Mr. Berejka, you are recognized for 5 minutes.

STATEMENT OF MARC BEREJKA, DIVISIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY 
           ADVOCACY AND IMPACT, REI, KENT, WASHINGTON

    Mr. Berejka. Chairman Tiffany and Ranking Member Levin, my 
name is Marc Berejka, and I serve as DVP for Community Advocacy 
and Impact at REI Co-op.
    I am also joined today by my colleague, Naz Ahmed. Naz is 
an Army vet who was deployed in the Middle East, and served the 
United States honorably. At REI, she co-leads our employee 
resource group for veterans. On behalf of the entire co-op, 
thank you for starting this important conversation on the MVP 
Act, how to make our Federal lands more accessible to members 
of the Armed Forces and our veterans, especially those with 
disabilities.
    As you may know, REI is an 85-year-old co-op. It was 
founded in the Pacific Northwest by 23 climbers who were 
pioneering routes throughout the area's mountains. The climbers 
formed a co-op in order to get easier access to high-quality 
gear that they could afford. Fast forward to today, and we have 
stores in almost every state, a robust online presence, and 
over 16,000 employees. Somewhat incredibly, the co-op now has 
over 23 million members. We are approaching 9 percent of the 
country's adult population.
    What drives our success is our long-standing, authentic 
commitment to connecting people to time outside, to 
demystifying what might seem challenging, and to make nature 
approachable. We pursue this with a passion because we know 
that time outside is fundamental to our well-being.
    As a co-op, we are also deeply committed to giving back. We 
are committed to stewardship, sustainability, and diversity. 
Each year, my team collectively provides about $10 million in 
support to hundreds of not-for-profits across the country, 
including those like Blue Star Families, Minority Veterans of 
America, Adaptive Adventures, and more. Despite our work, we 
know that many, many people still face barriers to enjoying 
time outside. Our sector calls this the ``nature gap.'' In 
fact, per trust for public land, more than 100 million people 
lack easy nearby access to safe, welcoming natural spaces.
    We see this reality with eyes wide open. REI is regularly 
sharpening our impact agenda, and closing this nature gap is 
now a top priority. In fact, just last week in Anacostia Park, 
we announced a new, long-term initiative we call ``Outside in 
5''. Its aim is to be more forthright in identifying access 
issues, and more determined than ever in addressing them.
    Especially relevant to the MVP Act, we have been steadily 
investing in research around the intersection between nature 
and healing. Personally, I have had the honor to meet suffering 
vets who have described how their lives were literally saved by 
the mountains. To demonstrate that time in nature heals, REI 
has funded research at top universities with vets as 
enthusiastic participants, as well as trauma-suffering youth.
    We know that demonstrating the benefits of time outside is 
one key to closing the nature gap. Another lays in feasibility, 
especially for people with disability. Here, REI has been 
supporting not-for-profits that are designing assistive gear, 
as well as adaptive programing.
    The intent of the bill we discuss today is fully aligned 
with REI's belief that the outdoors should be available and 
accessible for everyone. We applaud the Committee for 
identifying specific ways to make Federal lands more accessible 
for both active duty military and disabled vets. Understanding 
that the draft is subject to change, I have a few comments for 
the Committee's consideration in addition to those in my 
written testimony.
    Foremost, while it focuses on vets and military, we see the 
bill's benefits flowing to the broader disability community, as 
well. So, we suggest that edits be made to explicitly call that 
out, fostering accessibility of Federal infrastructure for the 
entire disability community.
    Second, I would underscore the importance of the bill's 
awareness-raising goals. The bill should include guidance on 
how to work with vets' organizations and the disability 
community to update and amplify information on where accessible 
infrastructure exists. It is not enough to build it and just 
assume that they will come.
    And then, as to the bill's mandate to build accessible 
trails and recreation facilities, one trail and one facility 
per region, per agency is a good start and can generate great 
learning. But we see value in more ambition, both to break 
ground on more initial projects and to complete them faster so 
that the bill's pivot in trail building modus operandi takes 
root more quickly.
    To close, I want to emphasize how honored we are to be part 
of this important work. We look forward to contributing to the 
next version of the bill, and to seeing a bipartisan end 
product advance to the next stage. Thank you.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Berejka follows:]
    Prepared Statement of Marc Berejka, Divisional Vice President, 
                Community Advocacy and Impact, REI Co-op
on Discussion Draft, H.R. ____, ``Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) 
                                 Act''

    Chairman Tiffany and Ranking Member Neguse, on behalf of REI Co-op, 
I would like to thank the committee for starting this important 
conversation on how to make our federal lands more accessible to 
members of the Armed Forces and this nation's veterans. I welcome the 
opportunity to provide the co-op's support for, and some comments on, 
the draft version of the Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act.
    At REI, we know that the outdoors brings people together--
Republicans and Democrats, different generations, families, friends, 
and many others. Despite our many differences, we all love the outdoors 
and find common purpose in enjoying it together. As this legislation 
highlights, time outside, in nature, provides meaningful opportunities 
and solutions for many of us, not the least of which is our health and 
wellbeing. My team and I look forward to an ongoing dialogue with you 
and your staff on this important topic.
Statement of Interest

    My name is Marc Berejka and I serve as the Divisional Vice 
President for Community Advocacy and Impact at the co-op. I am also 
President of the REI Cooperative Action Fund (``REI Fund''), a 
relatively new public charity created by the co-op to foster more 
equitable access to time outside.
    REI is 85 years old this year. We were founded in the Pacific 
Northwest in 1938 by 23 climbers who were pioneering routes in and 
among the area's mountains. They had each other, as they mapped their 
way into the region's inspiring nature and its adventures. They found 
they needed quality gear at affordable prices. And since the region 
didn't have a provider, they created an entrepreneurial solution--a co-
op for importing the best-available, European tools, selling them at a 
modest mark-up, and enabling them to be all they could be.
    Fast forward to today and REI is in almost every state. We have 
over 180 stores, a robust online presence, and over 15,000 employees. 
We buy product from about 1,000 different small and medium-sized 
outdoor companies from around the country. And all told, the co-op now 
has over 23 million members, approaching nine percent (9%) of the 
country's adult population.
    We are proud of our steady growth, our long-standing stewardship of 
our lands and waters, our commitments to sustainability and diversity, 
and our support for hundreds of nonprofits annually. To date, we have 
invested over $125 million in our nonprofit partners across the 
country. But we also know the mission suffers a gap. We and others call 
it the nature gap. For all the work we've done over the decades to 
introduce people to the outdoors--and its many benefits--we are fully 
aware that large swaths of the American public lack welcoming, 
accessible opportunities to connect with nature. In fact, based on 
available data, we believe that a full 100 million people in America 
face this nature gap.
    To address it, just last week in Anacostia Park, we launched a new, 
long-term commitment and initiative we call ``Outside in 5.'' Its aim 
is to be more forthright in identifying access issues and more 
determined than ever in addressing them. The nature gap emerges in 
different ways among different communities, but at the core we see 
systems and policies that have led to exclusion and displacement from 
nature. Last week, we put down a marker that we will invest our 
treasure and time against this problem, and also use our advocacy 
voice, like we do here today.
    We know that time outside is fundamental to human wellbeing. This 
is not a notion but an increasingly demonstrable fact. All of us know 
from our own experiences that time outside, in nature, is good for our 
wellbeing. But because of research we've sponsored, there's also an 
increasing body of evidence that shows how, physiologically, time 
outside benefits us.
REI's Commitment to the Purpose of this Bill

    At REI, we have been steadily investing in research around the 
intersection of nature and healing and the importance of outdoor 
recreation to overall health and wellness for almost a decade.
    We are especially grateful to have pursued some of this work in 
partnership with veterans and the veteran's community. In Congress, you 
know well how important it is for us to demonstrate the nation's 
respect and gratitude for our vets' service. One focus of ours has been 
to highlight the unique role time outside in nature--facilitated via 
cohort or alone--can play in the rehabilitation and wellbeing of our 
vets. We commit ourselves to this work because America's veterans have 
literally dedicated their lives to safeguarding this country and its 
lands and waters.
    It should go without saying, but all of us--government, industry, 
nonprofits, and others--should do what we can to make it ever-easier 
for our military and former military to enjoy the places they've been 
protecting and to get the important benefits of being in nature. 
Personally, I have had the honor--on more than one occasion--to hear a 
suffering vet describe how his life ``was saved by the mountains'' or 
``by a fishing trip with guides and buddies'' or ``by a through-hike 
along the Appalachian Trail.'' The fact that well-crafted time outside 
can heal should not be up for debate, but it still does seem to be a 
fact we have to prove.
    So as one company, with our partners, we endeavor. We have 
supported research at some of the country's top universities with vets 
as enthusiastic participants, as well as trauma-suffering youth. 
Several years ago, we helped stand-up a Nature and Health initiative at 
the University of Washington; and, recently, the REI Fund has provided 
seed investments for a national Nature and Health Alliance, as well as 
similar efforts at the Universities of Utah and of Maryland. For all 
these institutions, time outside is seen as a vehicle for rejuvenation 
and healing trauma.
    We know that demonstrating efficacy is one key step. Another lays 
in feasibility, especially for people with disabilities. Here, the REI 
Fund is supporting both a national and several regional nonprofits that 
are designing assistive gear and facilitated, adaptive programs. These 
organizations--like Adaptive Adventures, Vermont Adaptive, Catalyst 
Sports, All Out Adventures and the Outdoors for All Foundation--are 
heroic in their own right. We are pleased to support them, their vets-
focused programs, and their broader mission.
    We are also proud to have worked closely with Congress, including 
this committee and the Committee on Veterans Affairs, on the 2020 
passage of the ``Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans,'' which 
was included in the COMPACT Act. The Task Force is now up and running 
and working across federal agencies and alongside nonprofit 
stakeholders to help remove barriers to leveraging public lands for the 
treatment of veterans--effectively starting the conversation around the 
concept of ``prescribing the outdoors'' at scale. We are looking 
forward to seeing what recommendations this Task Force provides 
Congress.
Initial Comments on the Draft

    The draft version of the Military Veterans in Parks Act 
appropriately prioritizes making some trails accessible to disabled 
veterans and active duty military and providing needed information 
about the location of accessible infrastructure across our federal 
lands. At REI, we strongly believe that the outdoors should be 
available and accessible for everyone, and we applaud the authors of 
this draft for taking an important step in finding ways to make public 
lands more accessible for both active duty military and disabled 
veterans.
    We should--at every level of government--be identifying 
opportunities and areas to increase access to outdoor recreation for 
those with disabilities. This legislation would certainly take a 
significant step in formalizing that at the federal level.
    With the understanding that this legislation is currently a draft 
and subject to changes, I would like to provide some comments about 
potential changes and additions for the Committee's consideration as 
you finalize the text.
    First and foremost, this legislation has a focus on our nation's 
veterans and military, but this bill really benefits the broader 
disability community. We would strongly suggest that the direction and 
focus of the bill be inclusive--fostering accessible infrastructure on 
public lands for the broader community of people with disabilities. 
Through conversations with several federal agencies, we know there is 
good work being done for this community. This legislation would elevate 
that work and bring additional focus, which we support. The broader 
disability community deserves that focus and we are hopeful that the 
final text will ensure those who desperately need this access--our 
nation's active duty military, veterans and others across the 
disability community alike--are able to benefit from it.
    In addition, we would like to underscore the awareness-raising 
aspect of the bill. Accessible trails and other accessible 
infrastructure are not useful if people who need them do not know they 
exist. I would encourage the Committee to include guidance on working 
with veteran's organizations and the disability community to 
appropriately distribute updated information on where accessible 
infrastructure exists and, if possible, what might be in the pipeline 
down the road. If something similar exists today, it is difficult to 
locate and the current and future work of these agencies deserves a 
broader audience.
    As to the trails and recreation facilities themselves, I would 
encourage the Committee to aim higher and raise the bill's initial 
ambitions. One trail and facility per region per agency is a good start 
and can provide some key learnings, but ideally there would be more 
initial projects so that people would be able to access them, which 
will also provide needed information in growing this effort over time. 
These initial trails could be considered a pilot program for discovery 
around how to scale this across the country, including providing key 
learnings to non-federal land management partners in states. The same 
can be said about the bill's timelines. We would appreciate considering 
a shorter implementation schedule, if possible.
    Lastly, I want to raise a flag around the permitting provisions. 
REI fully supports permitting reform and, in separate venues, have been 
trying to advance permitting reform. The SOAR Act, which has been 
introduced by members of this Committee and is the product of more than 
a decade's work, will streamline the permitting process on public 
lands. The permitting process is equally complex and frustrating at 
times. As the Committee looks to cut red tape around access for 
veterans and active duty military, I would ask the Committee to take 
care to avoid undermining permitting reforms and opportunities that 
will improve access for all lovers of the outdoors. We are happy to 
discuss specific language changes with the Committee at the appropriate 
time.
Conclusion

    In closing, I want to reiterate how greatly the co-op and I 
appreciate the chance to testify on this important legislation. My team 
and I look forward to working with the Committee to ensure our nation's 
active duty military, its veterans and our disability community have 
greater access to our public lands. We also look forward to working 
with you and all stakeholders--federal agencies, groups that support 
the military community (like Blue Star Families), veterans 
organizations, and the disability community--on innovative ways to make 
our public lands more accessible. This is important work, which we are 
honored to be a part of. We look forward to contributing to the next 
version of this legislation and the bipartisan product that ultimately 
advances.
    I would also applaud the Committee for its parallel work on an 
outdoor recreation legislative package, America's Outdoor Recreation 
Act. That legislative package will be historic and will help to both 
modernize and simplify access to the outdoors. Like the MVP Act, we 
look forward to the historic passage of that broader piece of 
legislation.

                                 ______
                                 

    Mr. Tiffany. Thank you, Mr. Berejka. Trust me, the Tiffany 
family has fully supported, with three daughters, REI over the 
years.
    Mr. Berejka. We appreciate your membership.
    [Laughter.]
    Mr. Tiffany. So, we are voting right now. We are going to 
take a break. I am hoping all of you will stay, and you don't 
have to stay in your seats, but if you would stay until we come 
back, I would expect about a half hour. Yes, we look forward to 
coming back at 10:45, and we will take questions from Members, 
and we hope you will stay around to accept those questions.
    Thank you very much for your testimony, and we will break 
until 10:45.
    The Committee stands in recess, subject to the call of the 
Chair.
    [Recess.]
    Mr. Tiffany. The Committee will come back to order. We are 
now going to take questions from Members. Thank you so much for 
your patience as we cast a couple of votes there. I suspect you 
all flew, so what we were doing was rather important in regards 
to the FAA.
    I am going to start with questions. Ms. Wilson, the process 
for the Mountain View Corridor has been underway for the better 
part of 15 years. Will you share with us the delays the 
Mountain View Corridor project has experienced as a result of 
the process of transferring the land?
    Ms. Wilson. Yes. Actually, we started the environmental 
process for Mountain View Corridor in 2003. Construction has 
been going on for the last----
    Mr. Tiffany. Sorry about that. Did you say 2003?
    Ms. Wilson. Yes, that is correct. That is when we started 
environmental. Construction of this highway has been going on 
for the last 15 years.
    And this project hasn't been delayed, it has been built in 
phases, most of them in Salt Lake County to begin with. This is 
the final phase that will connect the projects. We would like 
to be able to start construction next year, so this transfer is 
of utmost importance at this point for us.
    Mr. Tiffany. But it is contingent upon us completing this 
legislation?
    Ms. Wilson. Correct.
    Mr. Tiffany. Mr. Berejka, I want to go back to my notes 
from previously. During your testimony, I am just trying to 
come back to it, is there a definition for disability that is 
used? You talked about providing more opportunities, right? Is 
there a definition in Federal law that you guys reference in 
regards to disability?
    Mr. Berejka. I would defer to people who are more expert 
than me for a definitive answer, but I would say that the 
starting point is the ADA, and that different agencies, whether 
they are Federal, state, or local would likewise refer to ADA 
regulations.
    Mr. Tiffany. You said there are some projects, that more 
projects could be done, I think, toward the end of your 
testimony, and perhaps get them done faster. Expand on that a 
little bit, what you were talking about.
    Mr. Berejka. So, I read the legislation and was very 
enthused by it, and then I got to the last section and it said 
we, Congress, require one project per region per agency, and 
complete it within 5 years and report back on it after 6, 
something to that effect. And I thought to myself, well, this 
must be a notion of a test-and-learn, or pilot projects, or 
something to advance this Congress' awareness and the agency's 
awareness of how to build accessible facilities.
    And I thought to myself, if we are going to legislate, 
maybe we could be a little bit more ambitious. So, is 
construction in 5 years really too much time, frankly? Could it 
be done in less? Could there be more projects?
    Mr. Tiffany. Welcome to the Federal Government, sir.
    Mr. Berejka. Just encouraging my friends in Congress.
    Mr. Tiffany. Yes, yes, for sure. Sometimes it is the case, 
though getting something started, and getting the process 
started leads to results in the future. I cast some 
encouragement that way. But yes, we get really frustrated with 
the pace of the Federal Government, especially in regards to 
permitting. It has been talked about ad nauseam in this 
Committee.
    I am going to yield back, and next I will recognize 
Representative Stauber from Minnesota for 5 minutes for 
questioning.
    Mr. Stauber. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Before I get 
into my questions I want to talk about the GROW Act, and I want 
to thank my colleague from California, Representative Levin, 
and my colleague from Virginia, Representative Wittman, for 
introducing the GROW Act.
    It is an important piece of legislation that will help 
connect our veterans and retiring service members, put their 
skills to good use after their military careers. It will help 
these individuals continue their service to our country through 
important roles focused on conservation and management of our 
great public lands. Again, I want to thank both my colleagues 
for introducing that.
    I want to also thank the panel for their testimony this 
morning, as well as their commitment to supporting our active 
duty military members, veterans, and their families. It is so 
incredibly important that we honor those who are willing to 
make the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.
    Mr. Villanueva, I want to thank you for the work that you 
and others have done with the Wounded Warrior Project on behalf 
of our veterans. Can you please share with the Committee the 
impact that allowing disabled service members and veterans to 
access, recreate in, and otherwise enjoy our public lands has 
on these individuals?
    Mr. Villanueva. Thank you, Congressman. That is a great 
question. I mean, there are a couple of things that we can look 
at.
    Just right on its face, the physical well-being, the health 
benefits from going outdoors, just being exposed to sunlight. 
Vitamin D deficiency is something that is rampant right now in 
our country, right? And when you have vitamin D deficiency we 
are looking at things like depression, physical and muscle 
pain, extenuations, and even hair loss.
    But getting them back out, and not just out getting what we 
would call windshield time, because a lot of windshields, they 
will filter out the vitamin D, we are talking about getting 
out, getting active, and being exposed to nature. That is right 
there, those are the health benefits. That is right on its 
face.
    But in a more profound way, I think we need to look at, I 
know some of the panels earlier, there were multiple references 
saying that giving the best to veterans, and they are rewarding 
them for their service. I don't look at it like that. Where I 
come from and growing up surrounded by BLM properties, Federal 
properties, national parks, going out there hiking, fishing, 
that was my life before I joined the U.S. military. And for a 
lot of veterans, that is the same. But because of their 
service, many of them came back missing limbs, having diseases 
that confine them to a wheelchair. Unfortunately, some of them 
are dying of ALS. And the fact that they can't access these 
same hiking trails, go to these same fishing spots, all we are 
trying to get them back is a sense of normalcy. That is what we 
want, something that they lost because of their time in 
service.
    Mr. Stauber. I have one more question, just because of the 
time commitment. You are exactly right. I can't imagine a 
veteran in a wheelchair that goes to a boat ramp, and it is not 
wheelchair accessible. I can't imagine that.
    Mr. Villanueva. Yes, sir.
    Mr. Stauber. And in 2023, that should never happen.
    Mr. Villanueva. No.
    Mr. Stauber. So, I think that is why the advocacy on this 
Committee, and led by the Chairman is extremely important, that 
we allow access. And I appreciate your comments.
    One more question. Among the programs that you have 
partnered with, which kinds of programs do you think have been 
most successful, and are these locally run and organized 
programs, or programs run by the Federal Government?
    Mr. Villanueva. That is a really good question, and I know 
that there are a lot of programs that we have, but I will take 
that back for the record, and I would love to work with you, 
and get us in contact with our physical health and wellness 
teammates so that they can share with you some of those 
programs, the Federal programs and the local programs, that we 
have used because we utilize both with Wounded Warrior Project.
    Mr. Stauber. Yes, and just in my experience, it is the 
local programs in the local communities that will come up with 
the best options for the wounded warriors in our communities. 
And having been a city councilor and a county commissioner, now 
represent Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, it is 
important that we listen to you all with the boots on the 
ground, and listen to what those veterans need and want and 
their desires to make sure they are not left behind. We owe it 
to them.
    Mr. Chair, I yield back.
    Mr. Tiffany. The gentleman yields. I would like to 
recognize the gentleman from Idaho, Mr. Fulcher, for 5 minutes.
    Mr. Fulcher. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, to the panel for 
being here and for your testimony.
    And you are probably aware of this, but a number of us 
bouncing in and out aren't doing it because it is rude, it is 
because there is more than one Committee going on, but please 
know that we recognize your contributions here, and are 
thankful for that, and had a chance to go through some of your 
written testimony.
    But my first question is going to go to Ms. Wilson, so I 
will give you that forewarning, but a comment or two here 
first.
    I come from a state right next door in Idaho. And like you, 
we are around two-thirds of the land mass, which is federally 
controlled in our state. So, moves like this--in this case, to 
the benefit of our veterans and a very worthy cause--I am 
particularly pleased to see efforts to insert more local 
control, in this case a federal transfer to states. And I have 
just learned since being in office, this is my fifth year in 
office, that most Members, and I think most people, don't 
understand why there are a few particular states in the West 
that have such a huge amount of Western land.
    Can I just ask you first, are you a native Utahn? Have you 
been in Utah a long time?
    Ms. Wilson. Yes, sir. I have lived in Utah my whole life.
    Mr. Fulcher. OK, so you understand the ramifications of 
that. And there is a particular reason in history, post-Civil 
War, all that, how states that came into the Union were treated 
differently with the land and whatnot. Most people don't 
understand that, and most people don't understand what it is 
like to be at the state level and govern when you are subject 
to all those Federal rules.
    And one of the major things that is important to me is 
local stakeholder control. Not necessarily a transfer. It can 
take many forms. And I know in Utah, in the not too distant 
past, there has been a number of attempts to do transfers, to 
have more local control.
    And if you have been there your whole life, I know, like in 
Idaho, there have been state legislative attempts, there have 
been transfer attempts, there has been nibbling around the 
edges and some very good partnership programs like GNA, Good 
Neighbor Authority, roadless rule, those types of things. This 
is going to be a win, and I am very supportive of these bills, 
and I know you are, as well.
    But from your vantage point, what is the best approach for 
those of us in the West and these dominated Federal lands to 
try to engage with more local stakeholder control with the 
Federal Government?
    Ms. Wilson. I can't speak to the larger issues. I can speak 
from a DOT perspective. And in this particular case, we have 
worked very closely with our Federal partners. We have worked 
closely with Camp Williams on a regular basis. We have for my 
whole career, and they have been really great partners.
    The BLM, too, in the area, they are very willing to work 
with us and help us. So, I think those local relationships are 
really important----
    Mr. Fulcher. Is it a legislative approach? Is it statute 
through these channels? What is most effective?
    Ms. Wilson. Well, in this case, we wouldn't be here except 
for the fact that this land was set aside by presidential 
executive order and the BLM doesn't have a mechanism to 
transfer it to us. If that weren't the case, this bill wouldn't 
be in front of you.
    Mr. Fulcher. OK. And not to cut you short, but I want to 
give Mr. Cline an opportunity to address the same thing.
    What is the best approach? You are coming from a similar 
type environment.
    Mr. Cline. Yes, sir, Congressman, thank you for that. In 
our county, we are 97 percent owned by public lands, so 
everything we do deals with public lands. Having the 
partnership and everything with our local governments is a big 
help.
    It still has issues, as well. One of the biggest issues we 
deal with on anything on the public lands is the NEPA process 
and the ability to really work through that in order to manage 
those lands.
    Mr. Fulcher. And not to segue too much, I only have 30 
seconds, but what would happen to your county without PILT and 
without SRS?
    Mr. Cline. We would dry up and blow away.
    Mr. Fulcher. And that encapsulates the challenge, I think, 
for myself and the Members of the West trying to communicate 
some of the issues we face. Most people have no idea. So, thank 
you for that.
    Sorry on the time, I didn't get to the rest of the panel, 
but I appreciate your insight.
    Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
    Mr. Tiffany. The gentleman yields. I would like to 
recognize the Chairman of the Full Committee, Mr. Westerman.
    Mr. Westerman. Thank you, Chair Tiffany, and thank you 
again to the witnesses for being here.
    Mr. Villanueva, I especially thank you for your service and 
also for your testimony today in which you noted that the 
Wounded Warrior Project has received feedback from your 
members, and that there is strong need for more adaptive trails 
and recreation opportunities. Can you please expand on the 
feedback that you have received, and how the MVP Act would help 
wounded warriors broadly?
    Mr. Villanueva. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    We actually had discussions with what we call our physical 
health and wellness teammates. We call them PH&W. But they were 
adamant with a lot of their programs, that they have warriors 
going out and they said that we need more adaptive trails.
    But not only that. Specifically, what types of trails. What 
is going to be the usage for it? Because what is a good trail 
for hiking for someone with prosthetics is not going to be the 
same, or not rated the same, for someone who is using either a 
motorized or a tracked wheelchair, or if they are using a 
recumbent bike. These trails need to be specified, and probably 
signage put up letting them know this trail is good for these 
certain adaptations.
    But I think that the MVP, we were extremely pleased to see 
this drafted legislation come to us because it answered a lot 
of the issues that we have seen. And one of the most important 
that I don't think we have even really talked about that much 
was the outreach.
    I have testified in a lot of different hearings in front of 
House Veterans Affairs committees, Subcommittees, Senate 
Veterans Affairs committees, and it seems like it always comes 
down to the knowledge of the programs that are already out 
there for veterans. The veterans want to go out and be active. 
They want to go out and do these things, but they just are not 
aware what is already there and available to them, so that 
portion I am extremely, extremely hopeful to have that out.
    Mr. Westerman. OK. Thank you for that, and I hope you will 
continue. I know you will stay engaged with us as we move 
through this process. Your feedback is very valuable.
    Mr. Berejka, your testimony mentioned the extensive 
research REI has conducted into analyzing the effects nature 
and outdoor recreation have for our veterans. Can you please 
talk about what this research has found, particularly as it 
relates to veterans suffering from PTSD?
    Mr. Berejka. Yes. Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman.
    For about a decade now, REI has been putting dollars into 
different research projects at different universities, and I 
have the privilege of overseeing a lot of those investments in 
research and, as a result, have been very committed to focusing 
where we can on the veterans community through personal 
interactions. And I am sure this may be true for others on the 
panel and yourselves. Veterans speak very directly about their 
suffering and their troubles with TBI or PTSD, and then also 
very directly about how time outside soothes their symptoms.
    So, there are some Doubting Thomases, and we put research 
dollars at Cal Berkeley into a program that showed how what I 
will call a curated experience, a facilitated experience, 
whitewater rafting among vets and with a bit of counseling--
this is one example--led to sustained weeks of reduced stress 
hormone. So, if you can reduce the stress hormones coursing 
through a vet's system through that type of activity, you have, 
I think, some magic in your hands.
    We did follow-on research with hiking in the Cascade 
Mountains through the University of Washington, and these are 
just examples of the types of projects that we have tried to 
foster.
    Mr. Westerman. Thank you for that. I am not a veteran, but 
I am an outdoorsman, and I can relate to everything you said. 
After being here in DC and getting back to the natural state of 
Arkansas, spending time outdoors, fishing, hiking, or just 
being at my farm, it is rejuvenating and refreshing, and I can 
see how it would be very beneficial to veterans and our whole 
country, and that is why we are trying to promote access to 
outdoor recreation and access to our public lands for all of 
America.
    I think it could be very beneficial to our children, as 
they grow up, to have those outdoor experiences, as well.
    Mr. Berejka. For sure. On fishing in particular, I would 
recommend to you Rivers of Recovery. They have done some 
research on the benefits of fishing for mental health.
    Mr. Westerman. It is good for mine.
    Thank you, and I yield back.
    Mr. Tiffany. The gentleman yields. Not always good for mine 
because I do a lot more casting than catching.
    [Laughter.]
    Mr. Westerman. That is why it is called fishing and not 
catching.
    Mr. Tiffany. I would like to recognize the gentleman from 
Oregon for 5 minutes.
    Mr. Bentz. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank all of you for 
attending today.
    Mr. Berejka, I am happy to say that we, my wife and I, shop 
at your stores a lot, way more than I would like. But 
wonderful, wonderful materials that you sell.
    I am extremely interested in your efforts to make sure that 
access to these public lands is preserved. And to that point, 
there is a movement, and it has been around for a long time, to 
lock up these lands and to turn them into spaces where no one 
can really go. Has your committee addressed this issue?
    I bring it up because I am from Oregon. I actually 
represent about three quarters of the state, and there is a 
huge amount of public land within my district. The challenge 
has always been to maintain the ability to access those lands. 
And as time has passed, many, many acres of those lands, many, 
many square miles, have been locked up, preventing anybody from 
really going into them. And there has been a movement in the 
national forests to do away with roads, to make it even more 
difficult for anyone to access, much less those who have 
disabilities.
    So, my question is, I think you mentioned 22 million people 
that are customers of your co-op. That is a lot of political 
power. Is your committee addressing these access issues? And if 
so, how?
    Mr. Berejka. We are still trying to assemble the political 
wherewithal, if you will, the advocacy wherewithal of our 
member base. We appreciate it when Members of Congress are also 
members of REI.
    On land closures or loss of access, our lived experience is 
that individual cases often bring individual circumstances and 
battles, if you will. So, at a national level, if you will, it 
is really, really hard for REI Co-op to make a general 
statement about the types of problems that you are referring 
to. When there is an access issue in the vicinity of our stores 
or where our members are concentrated, we are a co-op, we do 
engage, but we do try to find those win-win outcomes.
    Mr. Bentz. It would be hugely helpful, given the scope of 
your customer base, if you could take more of an aggressive 
position in maintaining this access because you have a huge 
footprint. So, I am just saying there is a great danger in 
people not standing up and saying we can't access these lands 
any longer because of whatever type of approach has been used 
to lock them up. And I guarantee you there are approaches to 
lock them up that cover, literally, millions of acres. So, I 
would just encourage that.
    On page 11 of the Veterans in Parks Act, there is a mention 
of permit streamlining. And, of course, we have been working 
here in this Committee to try to streamline the use of NEPA and 
other things. And it is no surprise that this paragraph is in 
this bill because many folks, I am guessing veterans, don't 
really have 4 or 5 years to wait for permitting to actually 
happen. So, another thing that your group could help us with is 
encouraging the streamlining approach that we have been trying 
to use with NEPA, and for reasons far greater than those, or in 
addition to those that are in this bill.
    And, again, you have this Committee, you have this 22 
million people. I am just encouraging you to use that power to 
accomplish the purposes that I think that are set forth in 
these bills. Can you give us any hope that you might be able to 
do that in your committee, or is it just too difficult, 
politically?
    Mr. Berejka. It is not too difficult politically, 
especially relative to permitting. In fact, Congressman, at the 
break my colleague, Naz, and I were talking about the 
challenges that she faces as an REI employee in securing 
permits from the Federal Government for the programs that the 
co-op facilitates on Federal public lands, and the wait time. 
It is a drag on our business.
    As a result, we have actually been working on permitting 
reform up here on the Hill for almost close to a decade. But I 
am told that we should be cautiously optimistic that this 
Committee and on the Senate side there will be passage of the 
SOAR Act, and inclusion in a bill that may see the President's 
signature by the end of the year. So, on permitting 
specifically, cautious optimism after a decade of work.
    On the engagement of our member base, my colleague back at 
headquarters, Alicia, will be overjoyed to hear that Congress 
is asking that we step up our use of our member base to use 
their voice, and I will bring that to the company leadership 
and say Congress is asking us to do a little bit more with our 
member base in terms of advocacy. Thank you.
    Mr. Bentz. As long as that is our kind of advocacy.
    [Laughter.]
    Mr. Berejka. We are all here because we love the outdoors.
    Mr. Bentz. Yes. I yield back, thank you.
    Mr. Tiffany. The gentleman yields. I want to echo what he 
just said. I think about my three daughters, all young adults 
who have shopped at REI. You can have a great influence on them 
with this message, because they hear the message in regards to, 
generally, environmentalism and things like that, and they hear 
it from you folks, amongst many other sources. It would be 
really good for them to hear a little bit of that flip side 
that, if we have such stringent regulations in place, that 
projects are not going to get done, and projects that I think 
they would view as being very important and good for people 
generally. So, you guys have a powerful voice in that and I 
sure hope, just as Mr. Bentz said, that you will use that 
platform that you have, because it is influential.
    Mr. Berejka. Thank you, and I really appreciate the fact 
that there is a camera here and that we are recording this, 
because I am going to take this back and we are going to share 
it around the leadership team, no doubt.
    Mr. Tiffany. I would like to recognize the gentleman from 
Arizona for 5 minutes, Mr. Crane.
    Mr. Crane. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate it, and I 
did want to say something to Chairman Westerman real quick, 
sir.
    Though you may not be a veteran of our Armed Forces, you 
most certainly are a veteran of this place. And as somebody who 
has been deployed three times into combat, I can tell you that 
this might be one of the most dangerous environments I have 
ever worked in. So, I am glad, sir, that you are getting out 
into the wild and fishing or casting, or whatever you are 
doing.
    On that note, Mr. Cline, thank you again for being here, 
sir. I want to ask really quickly, sir, this land that we are 
trying to convey from the Federal Government to Gila County, 
what is it currently being used for?
    Mr. Cline. Well, thank you, Congressman. Can you restate 
that? What it is currently used for?
    Mr. Crane. Yes, sir. What is this land and the buildings 
and structures on this land currently being used for?
    Mr. Cline. As I mentioned earlier, it was a combined 
district with another one, so it was totally vacated. Part of 
it, there are 10 acres of this property that is currently being 
used for fire suppression activities. They have an engine crew 
station there. The rest of it, the 232 acres is what Gila 
County has under permit. And currently, we have just been going 
through the remodels and setting the site up for the veterans 
retreat.
    Mr. Crane. Thank you. So, the part that we are looking at 
conveying right now isn't being used actively for anything, is 
that correct?
    Mr. Cline. That is correct.
    Mr. Crane. OK. Thank you, sir. What about the buildings 
that are on the site? Were they scheduled to be torn down?
    Mr. Cline. Yes. According to the conversations I had in 
2017 with the district ranger at the time, there was going to 
be an effort taking place to auction off what they could, and 
then dismantle and remove what they couldn't on the buildings.
    Mr. Crane. And that is one of the things that I love so 
much about this project, is that you are not coming here, Mr. 
Cline, and asking the Federal Government for any money. You are 
actually trying to take something that is a beautiful piece of 
land that is not being used anymore, and revitalize it into 
something amazing for some of our nation's finest individuals. 
Is that correct?
    Mr. Cline. That is correct. We want to totally repurpose 
all the buildings that are there, and also looking to adding 
one or two more in the next stage.
    Mr. Crane. Yes, thank you so much. Gila County, Arizona is 
home to over 500,000 veterans. Mr. Cline, can you briefly 
explain to the Committee how much passing this legislation 
would mean for the veteran community in your county?
    Mr. Cline. This site will only be one of two sites in 
Arizona. There is one in the southern part of Arizona and one 
in the northern part. We have numerous veterans across the rim 
country right there, in the northern part. It is not only for 
Arizona, but it will be opened up for the nation, for whatever 
group or individual has a use for it.
    It is huge for our local community, as well. We have a 
local veteran group there of about 100 people, right there in 
that small town. And then right there between us and Payson 
there are roughly another 5,000 to 7,000 more right there.
    So, having this accessible not only to the local members, 
the state members, the national members, but also we are 
adjacent to the White Mountain Apache Tribe that is not very 
far away, that has a number of veterans in that reservation, as 
well, that have been a big supporter of this project. So, it 
means everything to these folks.
    Mr. Crane. Thank you, sir.
    A little bit about myself really quickly. I deployed in the 
SEAL teams in 2006, 2008, 2010, all three times to Iraq. I lost 
a lot of friends while I was overseas, and even when I left. 
When I came back, I struggled with a lot of different issues 
that I don't typically talk about a lot, and I can tell you one 
of the best things for me in my healing process was to get out 
into the wild.
    And I appreciate that you have spearheaded this effort, 
sir, that you have worked on it for so many years, and I think 
it is going to be a real blessing to the district and to the 
county. So, thank you so much for doing it.
    Mr. Cline. Thank you, sir.
    Mr. Tiffany. The gentleman yields.
    We want to thank you for your service to our country and 
all the work you did, and we thank you for your continued 
service out here in Washington, DC.
    I think we went through everyone here. I would like to 
thank all the witnesses for their testimony and Members for 
your questions.
    Members of the Subcommittee may have additional questions 
for the witnesses, and we will ask that you respond to those in 
writing. Under Committee Rule 3, members of the Subcommittee 
must submit questions to the Subcommittee Clerk by 5 p.m. on 
Tuesday, July 25, 2023. The hearing record will be held open 
for 10 business days for those responses.
    If there is no further business, without objection, the 
Subcommittee on Federal Lands stands adjourned.

    [Whereupon, at 11:23 a.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]

            [ADDITIONAL MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD]

                        Statement for the Record
                       Bureau of Land Management
                    U.S. Department of the Interior
          on H.R. 2468, Mountain View Corridor Completion Act

Introduction

    Thank you for the opportunity to provide this Statement for the 
Record on H.R. 2468, the Mountain View Corridor Completion Act. The 
bill directs the conveyance of approximately 36 acres of Federal lands 
within the administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) to the state of Utah to be used for public or transportation 
purposes.
    The parcels proposed for conveyance under H.R. 2468 have been 
withdrawn for military purposes since 1914 and are not actively managed 
by the BLM. The BLM has no objection to the bill and would welcome the 
opportunity to work with the sponsor on certain technical 
modifications.
Background

    According to the Record of Decision issued by the Federal Highway 
Administration, Utah Division, the construction of the Mountain View 
Corridor freeway is intended to address the need for a continuous 
north-south transportation facility from western Salt Lake County to 
northern Utah County, which has been identified in long-range 
transportation plans since the 1960s. The corridor is in the vicinity 
of the approximately 24,000-acre Utah National Guard training site at 
Camp Williams, which is comprised of both Federal and State lands.
H.R. 2468

    H.R. 2468 directs the Secretary to convey approximately 36 acres 
under the administrative jurisdiction of the BLM to the State of Utah 
within 60 days of enactment and without consideration. Under the bill, 
the proposed conveyance would revert to the Department if the Secretary 
and the Governor determine that any portion of the land is sold or not 
used for public or transportation purposes. The bill also requires the 
BLM to create a map and legal description of the lands proposed for 
conveyance.
Analysis
    The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 
stipulates that the conveyance or sale of public lands may occur when 
it is determined to be in the public interest and is consistent with 
approved land use plans that have been developed with public 
involvement and environmental analysis. FLPMA also requires that such 
lands be conveyed for no less than their appraised fair market value. 
However, Congress has provided mechanisms to transfer public lands to 
local governments and nonprofits at little or no cost to be used for 
public purposes in certain circumstances. The BLM is not aware of any 
natural resource management concerns on the 36 acres proposed for 
conveyance and has no objection to the bill given its assurance that 
the lands to be conveyed will be for public purposes or to meet 
transportation needs benefiting the public and the Utah National Guard 
at Camp Williams.
    Additionally, the BLM notes that finalizing the boundaries of the 
conveyance and completing necessary environmental reviews may not be 
possible within the 60-day time frame provided to complete the 
conveyance. The BLM recommends allowing additional time to define and 
adjust the boundaries as necessary to ensure the final proposal is 
sufficient to meet any requirements for use as a public road operated 
by Utah Department of Transportation. We would welcome the opportunity 
to work with the sponsor on technical modifications to address these 
issues.
Conclusion

    Thank you for the opportunity to provide this statement for the 
record.

                                 ______
                                 

Submissions for the Record by Rep. Westerman

                        Statement for the Record

                         Duane Taylor, Director

                   Safe and Responsible Use Programs

    On behalf of the Motorcycle Industry Council \1\ (MIC), 
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America \2\ (SVIA), and 
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association \3\ (ROHVA)--
together referenced as the Associations, I appreciate the 
opportunity to submit testimony in support of, and asking for 
additions to, the discussion draft titled Military and Veterans 
in Parks (MVP) Act which seeks to improve access and 
opportunities for military service members, veterans, and Gold 
Star Families to enjoy outdoor recreation on federal lands.
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    \1\ The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) is a not-for-profit, 
national trade association representing several hundred manufacturers, 
distributors, dealers and retailers of motorcycles, scooters, 
motorcycle parts, accessories and related goods, and allied trades.
    \2\ The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) is the 
national not-for-profit trade association representing manufacturers, 
dealers, and distributors of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in the United 
States. SVIA's primary goal is to promote safe and responsible use of 
ATVs.
    \3\ The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) is a 
national, not-for-profit trade association formed to promote the safe 
and responsible use of recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs--
sometimes referred to as side-by-sides or UTVs) manufactured or 
distributed in North America. ROHVA is also accredited by the American 
National Standards Institute (ANSI) to serve as the Standards 
Developing Organization for ROVs. More information on the standard can 
be found at https://rohva.org/ansi-standard/.

    At the outset the Associations thank you for this draft 
legislation. The powersports industry and its broader community 
of activists, enthusiasts, riders and drivers have long 
supported our veterans and others with physical disabilities by 
hosting rides and other events. As a result, we recognize this 
legislation would create new opportunities for returning 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
service members and others with challenges.

    The industry itself has stepped up to make sure our 
veterans and others with disabilities can get outdoors and 
recreate. Just last month Indian Motorcycle and Veterans 
Charity Ride partnered to celebrate June as Veteran Motorcycle 
Therapy Month which included several motorcycle rides 
throughout the month and an off-road excursion to Gateway, 
Colorado. Late last year ``Can-Am and the Road Warrior 
Foundation (RWF) hosted an epic ``Adventure Therapy'' ride for 
a group of military Veterans that covered more than 1,000 miles 
aboard the Can-Am Spyder.''

    One of many examples of industry sponsored organizations 
that get veterans outdoors on off-highway vehicles is the 
Warfighter Made Mission. This organization, sponsored by 
Polaris, and Fox among others provides, ``. . . Recreational 
Therapy to service members, veterans, and their families with a 
fleet of Polaris RZR's for enjoyment on a private off-road 
course. Several vehicles are adapted for those with 
catastrophic injuries. These events improve quality of life, 
mental health, and bring families together in a fun and 
positive environment.''

    State and local off-highway vehicle clubs and associations 
also host veterans' rides across the country. One such example 
is the annual Thank You for Your Service ride hosted by the 
Iowa OHV Association. The first such event, held in 2018, ``. . 
. consisted of thirty members from Iowa's off-highway vehicle 
(OHV) clubs (who) trailered their multi-passenger recreational 
off-highway vehicles (commonly referred to as ``side-by-
sides'') to the Iowa Veterans Home to give 100 veterans and 
staff members a ride on the grounds of the 150-acre facility.'' 
Veteran's Home staff were thrilled with the ride. ``I was very 
excited to be part of this event. I've never seen so many happy 
residents,'' said Matt McAllister, Recreational Therapist.'' 
And ``I have had many staff and residents express how great the 
opportunity was for the residents and how smoothly it went. 
There were a few residents who just were not sure of riding, 
but once they went, they wanted to go again,'' said Emily Hall, 
Recreation Bureau Chief.

    OHVs offer an opportunity for those with disabilities to 
engage in outdoor recreation that may not be available through 
other means. Dan Kleen, who was the catalyst for the Thank You 
for Your Service rides in Iowa, is an incomplete C-6 
quadriplegic. Dan shared that he doesn't take rides for 
granted, instead he views them as a gift he has been given as 
there was a time that he didn't believe he would be able to get 
outdoors ever again. He recounted a story that means a lot to 
him. ``I was at a Jamboree and participants were offered the 
chance to ride a new model ATV that was being premiered at the 
event. I left my wheelchair in my truck and set out on the ride 
with a group of riders and industry representatives that I 
didn't know. When we stopped for lunch, I rode my ATV up to the 
picnic table and ate alongside the other riders. After 8 hours 
of riding, we returned to the trailhead and a friend brought my 
chair over so I could dismount. The other riders were stunned 
as they hadn't realized that I had any limitations. That was a 
pretty fun day for me as I was able to keep up with all the 
riders and I felt 100% engaged in the sport.''

    OHV recreation can provide important opportunities for many 
with disabilities to access the outdoors, and industry and 
enthusiasts are ready to step up to the plate and help. As a 
result, we support the Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act 
and recognize that nothing in the legislation as drafted would 
disallow federal land management agencies from developing 
adaptive trails and opportunities that feature OHV recreation. 
But we suggest that OHV recreation should be specifically 
mentioned in two sections of the draft legislation.

    First, we suggest adding ``off-highway vehicle recreation'' 
on page 4, line 7 of the draft, so section (a)(5) reads:

        (5) CONFLICT AVOIDANCE WITH OTHER USES.--In developing 
        each adaptive trail under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        concerned shall ensure that the adaptive trail----

        (A) does not conflict with----

        (i) the uses in effect before the date of the enactment 
        of this Act with respect to any trail or road that is 
        part of that adaptive trail;

        (ii) multiple-use areas where biking, hiking, horseback 
        riding, off-highway vehicle recreation, or use by pack 
        and saddle stock are existing uses on the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
    Secondly, please again add ``off-highway vehicle 
recreation'' on page 6, line 4 of the draft so section (b)(3) 
reads:

        (3) ADAPTIVE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.--The adaptive 
        recreation opportunities developed under paragraph (1) 
        may include improving accessibility or access to----

        (A) campgrounds and camping areas;

        (B) hunting, fishing, shooting, or archery ranges or 
        locations;

        (C) snow activities, including skiing and snowboarding;

        (D) water activities, including kayaking, paddling, 
        canoeing, and boat launches;

        (E) rock climbing;

        (F) off-highway vehicle recreation

        (G) biking; and

        (H) any other recreation opportunities identified in 
        consultation with stakeholders under paragraph (2).

    As we have indicated above, off-highway vehicle recreation 
can be a vitally important way to get those with disabilities 
outdoors. So, again, we support the draft legislation, but urge 
the two minor suggestions above be implemented before 
introduction.

    Thank you for your consideration.

                                 [all]