Free Veterans From Fees Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1029, offered by Congressman Steube of Florida, would waive the application fee associated with special use permits for any veterans' demonstrations or special events at war memorials located on Federal land.

Each year, hundreds of veterans' groups and Gold Star families visit our national war memorials in Washington, D.C. This is done through arranged visits sponsored by veterans' organizations. To obtain a permit for any special events they hold, these veterans' groups may be required to pay administrative fees and other processing costs to the National Park Service. The Free Veterans from Fees Act waives these special use permit fees for veterans' groups so that they may hold their demonstrations and special events at war memorials administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia free of charge.

The last thing veterans and their families should worry about is paying administrative fees when visiting memorials and monuments built in their honor. These brave men and women fought to defend our Nation, and we should honor their sacrifices by making it as simple as possible for them to visit these sites.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, this is a great bill to honor our heroes and to say thank you in another way. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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