Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks (Vip) Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4300) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to make free National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes available to members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4300

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 ``Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act''. SEC. 2. RECREATION PASSES.

Section 805 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Public Law 108-447; 118 Stat. 3385; 16 U.S.C. 6804) is amended--

(1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``age and disability discounted'' and inserting ``age discount and lifetime''; and

(2) in subsection (b)--

(A) in the heading, by striking ``Discounted'' and inserting ``Free and Discounted'';

(B) in paragraph (2)--

(i) in the heading, by striking ``Disability discount'' and inserting ``Lifetime passes''; and

(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

``(B) Any veteran who provides adequate proof of military service as determined by the Secretary.

``(C) Any member of a Gold Star Family who meets the eligibility requirements of section 3.2 of Department of Defense Instruction 1348.36 (or a successor instruction).''; and

(C) in paragraph (3)--

(i) in the heading, by striking ``Gold star families parks pass'' and inserting ``Annual passes''; and

(ii) by striking ``members of'' and all that follows through the end of the sentence and inserting ``members of the Armed Forces and their dependents who provide adequate proof of eligibility for such pass as determined by the Secretary.''. SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4300, the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act introduced by my colleague Representative Miller-Meeks from Iowa.

This bill would provide free annual America the Beautiful Passes to current military servicemembers and free lifetime America the Beautiful Passes to veterans and members of Gold Star families, ensuring that those who have sacrificed so much in the service of our Nation are able to access our national parks and public lands at no cost.

Anyone who has visited America's public lands understands the significant mental and physical health benefits of getting outside and connecting with nature. It is time that we ensure our military servicemembers, veterans, and Gold Star families are able to access these beloved places at no cost.

Although the annual America the Beautiful Pass became free for veterans and Gold Star families in 2020, the change for veterans has never been codified in law.

While we will never be able to repay the debt owed to them for their service and their sacrifice, H.R. 4300 will ensure that this benefit is protected in perpetuity and that all of our American heroes are able to recreate and find comfort and solace on the lands that they fought so hard to protect.

I would like to thank Representative Miller-Meeks for her service and for her work on this important legislation, including working with Committee on Natural Resources chair, Mr. Grijalva, to rename the bill in honor of Alexander Lofgren.

Alexander Lofgren served for 4 years in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Afterwards, he served in Chair Grijalva's office as part of the Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program, handling issues and constituent casework concerning veterans' health and benefits.

As a congressional staffer and veteran, Mr. Lofgren was a great proponent for his community, veterans, and our Nation's public lands, often encouraging returning veterans to reconnect with nature to heal.

Tragically, his life was lost during a recent outing in Death Valley National Park. Our hearts go out to his family. Renaming this legislation after Mr. Lofgren is a fitting tribute to his legacy and service to our Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague from Iowa for her leadership on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

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