[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 163 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4567-H4568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      FREE VETERANS FROM FEES ACT

  Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1702) to waive the application fee for any special use 
permit for veterans demonstrations and special events at war memorials 
on Federal land, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1702

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Free Veterans from Fees 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. WAIVER OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION FEE FOR 
                   VETERANS' SPECIAL EVENTS.

       (a) Waiver.--The application fee for any special use permit 
     solely for a veterans' special event at war memorials on land 
     administered by the National Park Service in the District of 
     Columbia and its environs shall be waived.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) District of columbia and its environs.--The term ``the 
     District of Columbia and its environs'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 8902(a) of title 40, United States Code.
       (2) Gold star families.--The term ``Gold Star Families'' 
     includes any individual described in section 3.2 of 
     Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36.
       (3) Special event.--The term ``special events'' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 7.96 of title 36, Code of 
     Federal Regulations.
       (4) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code.
       (5) Veterans' special event.--The term ``veterans' special 
     event'' means a special event of which the majority of 
     attendees are veterans or Gold Star Families.
       (6) War memorial.--The term ``war memorial'' means any 
     memorial or monument which has been erected or dedicated to 
     commemorate a military unit, military group, war, conflict, 
     victory, or peace.
       (c) Applicability.--This section shall apply to any special 
     use permit application submitted after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (d) Applicability of Existing Laws.--Permit applicants 
     remain subject to all other laws, regulations, and policies 
     regarding the application, issuance and execution of special 
     use permits for a veterans' special event at war memorials on 
     land administered by the National Park Service in the 
     District of Columbia and its environs.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1702, the Free Veterans from 
Fees Act introduced by Representative Greg Steube.
  This bill seeks to honor the sacrifices made by our veterans and 
their families by waiving application fees for veterans' special events 
at war memorials in our Nation's Capital for veterans and Gold Star 
families.
  Although the National Park Service has a longstanding practice of 
waiving application fees for special use permits for most veterans' 
events at war memorials, oftentimes, veterans' organizations have to 
pay administrative fees and processing costs to obtain permits for 
events such as Honor Buses.
  By codifying a version of this routine practice and policy in law, we 
can help honor the sacrifices made by our veterans and Gold Star 
families by ensuring that they are not required to pay when visiting 
national war memorials built to commemorate their bravery and our 
fallen heroes.
  I thank Representative Steube for introducing this legislation and 
urge my colleagues to support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the significant and unparalleled 
sacrifices veterans have made for our country, my colleague Mr. Steube 
introduced H.R. 1702 to waive the application fee associated with 
special use permits for veterans' organizations and our Gold Star 
families at war memorials on Federal lands.
  Special use permits are required by the National Park Service for 
activities that provide a benefit to an individual group or 
organization and for activities that require the use of a designated 
park location for a specific purpose and length of time.
  When those who have served our Nation, Mr. Speaker, including Gold 
Star families, want to hold an event whose primary purpose is to 
commemorate or honor the service of veterans, they should not be 
subject to application fees. This bill removes a potential barrier and 
ensures our veterans are not discouraged from planning, hosting, or 
organizing events on our public lands.
  With this bill, Mr. Speaker, we show in one more way our respect for 
our Nation's veterans, and we support the special events that honor the 
men and women of our Armed Forces.
  I commend my colleague Congressman Steube for his work on behalf of 
our servicemen and -women.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill's sponsor, Congressman Steube, was unable to 
be here today to speak on his bill because of commitments in his 
district.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure and since I have no 
further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HAALAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to vote in 
favor of my bill, H.R. 1702, the Free Veterans from Fees Act of 2019.
  To help foster a culture in America in which all veterans are valued 
for their service to our nation, we need to do our part to assist those 
who have served in our military. One way we can honor our nation's 
heroes is to assist them when they visit national war memorials as they 
remember all those who fought and are not here today.
  Throughout the year, several veterans' groups and Gold Star Families 
visit national war memorials here in Washington, D.C. by honor buses 
and honor flights through various veterans' organizations. To obtain a 
permit for their visit, oftentimes veterans' groups must pay 
administrative fees and other processing costs related to visiting 
memorials that have been built not only as a testament of their 
sacrifice, but also to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for 
our nation.
  This common sense bill would waive the application fee for any 
special use permits for veterans' demonstration and special events at 
war memorials on land administrated by the National Park Service in the 
District of Columbia.

[[Page H4568]]

  The Free Veterans from Fees Act has bipartisan support and has been 
endorsed by AMVETS, a veteran organization that represents 250,000 
members nationwide.
  I thank the House Committee on Natural Resources for holding a 
hearing on this bill and I am pleased to see it on the legislative 
calendar. You may also remember this bill was passed through the 
Committee and through suspension on the House floor last Congress, and 
we hope that we can get this bill passed under suspension this 
Congress.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1702, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill waive the 
application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events 
at war memorials on land administered by the National Park Service in 
the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________