[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS:
  S. 1351. A bill to amend the Sikes Act to establish a mechanism by 
which outdoor recreation programs on military installations will be 
accessible to disabled veterans, military dependents with disabilities, 
and other persons with disabilities; to the Committee on Armed 
Services.


                  the disabled sportsmen's access act

  Mr. BURNS. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Disabled 
Sportsmen's Access Act. This legislation will provide new opportunities 
for sportsmen with disabilities to hunt and fish on the numerous 
Department of Defense facilities across this Nation. This legislation 
will also allow the Department of Defense to work with private sector 
groups to build facilities and operate programs for the benefit of 
sportsmen with disabilities.
  The beginnings of this legislation originate from a program developed 
at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, VA. The program, run by Lt. Col. 
Lewis Deal, is a prime example of the work that can be done to provide 
new opportunities for people with disabilities. Lieutenant Colonel Deal 
has combined private sector volunteers work with donations from other 
people to build permanent disabled accessible blinds for deer hunting, 
which are used during both gun and bow seasons. These blinds provide 
people living with disabilities many of the same opportunities for 
outdoor recreation that we all enjoy.
  There are plans underway at this time to construct a fishing pier on 
the Potomac River for access by people with disabilities. This pier is 
to be built with lower railings, and stops to provide access and 
security for disabled persons.
  This legislation, uses the current program at Quantico, to allow the 
Department of the Defense to provide access to it's 30 million acres of 
wildlands by disabled individuals, as long as it does not interfere 
with the primary mission of the military, that of our Nation's defense. 
The military installations around the Nation offer a number of 
recreational and outdoor activities for both military and civilian 
personnel.
  This legislation, will encourage the Department of Defense to give 
access to individuals with disabilities and allow the Department to 
accept donations or money and materials as well as use volunteers for 
the construction of facilities accessible to sportsmen with 
disabilities. The bill would allow this voluntary work to be done 
without cost to the Federal Government or the taxpayer.
  Madam President, this legislation has the support of numerous 
organizations, including the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen's 
Caucus, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans. 
Among sportsmen's groups the bill has the endorsement of the Wheeling 
Sportsmen of America, Safari Club International, Wildlife Management 
Institute, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 
and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. I join today with my 
friend Congressman Duke Cunningham to bring this important legislation 
to the attention of my colleagues.
  I hope that all my colleagues in Congress would join Congressman 
Cunningham and myself in supporting this legislation for disabled 
sportsmen in our country.

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