Benefits That Endure for Lifetimes of Service Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bill, H.R. 1682, the Benefits that Endure for Lifetimes Of Service Act, or BELO'S Act, named after Marc Belo, a fellow veteran, aviation legend, and friend with whom I had the great honor of serving.

This bill would honor our Nation's fallen heroes and their loved ones by expanding free access to national parks to the families of veterans who pass away from a service-related illness or accident.

As a former Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot, I had the blessing of serving with countless men and women across the Active-Duty, Reserve, and National Guard components of our Armed Forces. During that time, I took on many roles, from supporting wildfire fighting efforts to deploying as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Mr. Speaker, any soldier or veteran will tell you that service to the Nation takes many forms, but that also means sacrifice does, too.

When I learned that, under existing law, only the families of soldiers who died in Active-Duty combat operations were eligible for free lifetime national parks passes, I immediately thought of my friend and fellow veteran, First Sergeant Marc Belo.

I served alongside Sergeant Belo for a decade in the Colorado Army National Guard. Belo was already a senior sergeant and crew chief when I was a young lieutenant. He took me under his wing from day one. Whether it was a domestic operation, including fighting fires and conducting search and rescues, or whether it was deployment overseas to the Middle East as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Marc and I were in it together.

He was the heart and soul of our company, Alpha Company ``Wolfpack,'' and the 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion ``Blackjacks.'' An amateur photographer and a true patriot who was a 9/11 first responder and who gave his life to his Nation for more than 30 years, the passage of this bill could not come at a more timely, if tragic, moment.

Unfortunately, 1 year ago this week, Marc passed away from cancer related to his military service. His family, friends, and all who served with him were devastated.

Mr. Speaker, a friend you served with being taken far too soon by a service-related illness or injury is a story that, unfortunately, sounds all too familiar to veterans all across our country. The circumstances of their deaths can never minimize the magnitude of their sacrifice.

That is why I am so proud to sponsor the bipartisan BELO'S Act, along with the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta). This ensures that the families of servicemembers who die in circumstances not related to combat, like training accidents or service-connected illness, are still honored with free lifetime passes to enjoy America's beautiful national parks.

While this will benefit military families from coast to coast, it will especially make a difference for the military families in my district, who are blessed to live so close to some of the most beautiful public lands and national parks in the country. It is truly the least that we can do to thank these veterans' families for serving right alongside their loved ones.

Veterans and military families often find solace, peace, and healing in the great outdoors. Whether it is coping with PTSD, undergoing physical training, or coming to terms with the loss of a loved one, national parks play a vital role in their health and well-being.

It is my sincere hope that this bill can play a small role in helping military families, like the Belos, find peace in their loss and honor their loved ones who are taken from them too soon.

This week marks 1 year since Marc left us, but his legacy lives on and is now helping other veterans to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring American heroes like Marc Belo and their families by passing this important bill.

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