[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 194 (Monday, November 16, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5738-H5739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WOUNDED VETERANS RECREATION ACT

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 327) to amend the Federal Lands

[[Page H5739]]

Recreation Enhancement Act to provide for a lifetime National 
Recreational Pass for any veteran with a service-connected disability.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 327

       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 ``Wounded Veterans Recreation 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL RECREATIONAL PASSES FOR DISABLED VETERANS.

       Section 805(b) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 6804(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(2) Disability discount.--The Secretary shall make the 
     National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available, 
     without charge and for the lifetime of the passholder, to the 
     following:
       ``(A) Any United States citizen or person domiciled in the 
     United States who has been medically determined to be 
     permanently disabled, within the meaning of the term 
     `disability' under section 3 of the Americans with 
     Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102), if the citizen or 
     person provides adequate proof of the disability and such 
     citizenship or residency.
       ``(B) Any veteran who has been found to have a service-
     connected disability under title 38, United States Code.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Huffman) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include any extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill to provide wounded 
veterans with free access to our national parks and our public lands. 
This clearly is a bipartisan priority, and thanks to the leadership and 
hard work of my colleague, Senator Shaheen from New Hampshire, it 
cleared the Senate with unanimous support.
  I also know that my good friend, Raul Ruiz from California, the House 
sponsor of the bill, worked very hard and cares very deeply about the 
impact this bill will have on the veteran community.
  The Department of the Interior and the Forest Service currently waive 
fees for all disabled Americans, and this bill will make this a 
permanent and standard feature for all veterans with a service-related 
disability, ensuring that there are no barriers to access to the lands 
and waters these brave Americans have sacrificed so much to protect.
  Sending this bill to the White House for the President's signature 
less than a week after Veterans Day is also fitting. It is a meaningful 
action that will impact the lives of wounded veterans and recognize 
their important contribution and sacrifice. In the Natural Resources 
Committee, we have heard numerous stories about the healing and 
restorative powers of our public lands for countless veterans.
  Again, I want to thank the sponsors of this legislation for their 
attention to this issue. I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill, S. 327, requires the Department of the 
Interior and the Department of Agriculture to make available, free of 
charge, a lifetime national parks and Federal recreation land pass to 
any veteran who has been found to have service-connected disabilities.
  This builds upon the Secretary of the Interior's, Mr. Bernhardt's, 
recent Secretarial order which provided free park and public land 
passes to all U.S. veterans and Gold Star families. Providing free 
access to our Nation's veterans connects them to the treasured lands 
that they fought to protect.
  Each year thousands of veterans will benefit by recreating on these 
public lands, and providing a park pass is a small token of gratitude 
to our Nation's cherished servicemen and -women. So I urge adoption of 
this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 327.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 
965, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
will be postponed.

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