Bruce Westerman: “I also include in the Record several news articles that speak to the importance of this bill that have appeared in…”

“I also include in the Record several news articles that speak to the importance of this bill that have appeared in papers all across the country. Honoring America's Real VIPs (By Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-ARK.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R- IOWA), Opinion Contributors) [From The Hill, July 4, 2021] This year, we celebrate the 245th birthday of the United States. Independence Day is a great day to picnic with friends, spend time outside, and enjoy a fireworks show, but it is also much more than that. It is our duty to honor the men and women who, for the past two and a half centuries, have kept our county free. We owe a debt of gratitude to American military members and their families and we want to repay them in a very small way by giving them lifetime access to our national parks. There are few things that instill American pride quite like watching the sun set over the Grand Canyon, seeing bison roam through Yellowstone, or hiking through the forest in Acadia. From sea to shining sea, we are a nation of incredible beauty and biodiversity. Congress recognizes the mental and physical health benefits of outdoor recreation for current servicemembers and veterans. Last December Congress passed and President Trump signed legislation establishing an interagency task force to identify barriers and make recommendations to increase the use of public lands and other outdoor spaces for veteran medical treatment.…”