The Veterans Outdoors Rehabilitation Act would establish a state grant program to seed and grow outdoor recreation programs that benefit the well-being of all veterans. (Dustin Senger/U.S. Marine Corps)
WASHINGTON — Two senators from rural states are leading a bill to provide $10 million in state grants yearly to fund outdoor recreational activities that could help veterans connect with their local communities and improve their well-being after leaving the military.
Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., on Wednesday introduced the Veterans Outdoors Rehabilitation Act to develop and expand structured nature-based programs for veterans.
There currently is no standalone federal grant-funding program that focuses exclusively on providing dollars to seed and grow outdoor recreation programs for the benefit of all veterans, according to the sponsors.
“Let’s face it, for a lot of veterans healing doesn’t happen in a doctor’s office,” said Cramer, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Sometimes healing begins in places like a quiet trail, by the water, or under an open sky.”
The Veterans Outdoors Rehabilitation Act was referred to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which is expected to consider it by the end of April, according to Cramer’s office.
“Doing things outdoors, without a doubt, adds to a person’s well-being in ways that medicine cannot address,” said Charles Garbarino, a retired Army colonel and physician.
Garbarino, 74, of South Carolina, said the benefits of outdoor activities particularly make sense for individuals with depression or PTSD who may isolate at home, away from others.
The legislation directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to “establish a program under which the [VA] secretary shall award grants to certain state entities to expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs for veterans that enhance veteran wellness, and for other purposes,” according to the bill’s language.
Qualifying applicants would receive a minimum of $200,000 to deliver outdoor recreational opportunities for veterans, according to the bill.
The new legislation does not specify the kinds of outdoor adventures that states or their contracted partners could offer. But examples could include whitewater rafting, backpacking, rock climbing and fly fishing, among other activities, according to Cramer’s office.
States that receive grants would have the ability to tailor outdoor programs to the interests and abilities of the veterans they seek to serve, according to the sponsors.
U.S. Vet Connect Inc., a nonprofit, currently publishes the National Veterans Outdoor Resource Hub, a searchable online resource that lists subsidized or free outdoor experiences open to veterans. Events and programs are offered by a variety of organizations.
The VA also places a special focus on adaptive sports and recreation for disabled veterans and disabled members of the armed forces.
The agency offers grants and supports programs through its National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events office — offering adaptive sports, therapeutic art and recreational opportunities, according to the VA.
The new legislation would broaden support for outdoor recreation programs to engage more veterans, according to the bill’s sponsors.
“This bipartisan bill will expand access to outdoor rehabilitative and wellness programs for the brave men and women who have sacrificed to keep us safe, secure, and free,” said Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Finance Committee.
The bill is endorsed by the Veterans’ Outdoor Advocacy Group, a nonprofit founded by veterans that promotes nature-based activities on public lands and waterways.
“Veterans continue processing the experiences of their service long after their military career ends,” said Ben Davis, a former Navy SEAL and executive director of Veterans’ Outdoor Advocacy Group, a nonprofit organization.
States would apply for a grant through the VA, according to the bill.
Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., are helping to lead the bill.
“Veterans often find comfort and healing in the great outdoors, so helping increase their opportunities for healthy rehabilitation in those settings is important,” said Boozman, the son of an Air Force master sergeant, who is chairman of the Senate Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.
The legislation also encourages states and contracted partners to use wilderness spaces at federal parks and coordinate structured programs with land management agencies.
The bill would allow state veterans offices to work with federal land managers — including at the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management — to assess options for recreation opportunities, according to the bill.
States would run outdoor programs directly or partner with local outfitters and recreation providers, according to the bill.
“Veterans have increasingly pointed to outdoor recreation as a tool for recovery and reintegration after leaving military service, noting time in nature and shared activities can help rebuild community, reduce stress, and support long-term mental health,” Cramer and Hassan said in a joint statement.
