Part B—Military and Veterans in Parks
§8501. Promotion of outdoor recreation for military servicemembers and veterans
Not later than 2 years after January 4, 2025, the Secretary concerned, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, shall develop educational and public awareness materials to disseminate to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, including through preseparation counseling of the Transition Assistance Program under chapter 1 1142 of title 10, on—
(1) opportunities for members of the Armed Forces and veterans to access Federal recreational lands and waters free of charge under
(2) the availability and location of accessible trails, including new accessible trails developed and completed under
(3) the availability and location of accessible recreation opportunities, including new accessible recreation opportunities developed and completed under
(4) access to, and assistance with, assistive technology;
(5) outdoor-related volunteer and wellness programs;
(6) the benefits of outdoor recreation for physical and mental health;
(7) resources to access guided outdoor trips and other outdoor programs connected to the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of the Interior, or the Department of Agriculture; and
(8) programs and jobs focused on continuing national service such as Public Land Corps, AmeriCorps, and conservation corps programs.
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1 So in original. Probably should be "section".
§8502. Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaisons
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after January 4, 2025, the Secretaries and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall each establish within their Departments the position of Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaison.
(b) Duties
The Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaison shall—
(1) coordinate the implementation of this part;
(2) implement recommendations identified by the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans established under section 203 of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020 (
(A) identifying new opportunities to formalize coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, and partner organizations regarding the use of Federal recreational lands and waters for facilitating health and wellness for veterans;
(B) addressing identified barriers that exist to providing veterans with opportunities to augment the delivery of services for health and wellness through the use of outdoor recreation on Federal recreational lands and waters; and
(C) facilitating the use of Federal recreational lands and waters for promoting wellness and facilitating the delivery of health care and therapeutic interventions for veterans;
(3) coordinate with Military Veterans Outdoor Recreation Liaisons at other Federal agencies and veterans organizations; and
(4) promote outdoor recreation experiences for veterans on Federal recreational lands and waters through new and innovative approaches.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
This part, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), was in the original "this subtitle" meaning subtitle B (§§221–226) of title II of
Section 203 of the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020, also known as the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is section 203 of
§8503. Partnerships to promote military and veteran recreation
(a) In general
The Secretary concerned shall seek to enter into partnerships or agreements with State, Tribal, local, or private entities with expertise in outdoor recreation, volunteer, accessibility, and health and wellness programs for members of the Armed Forces or veterans.
(b) Partnerships
As part of a partnership or agreement entered into under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may host events on Federal recreational lands and waters designed to promote outdoor recreation among members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
(c) Financial and technical assistance
Under a partnership or agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may provide financial or technical assistance to the entity with which the respective Secretary concerned has entered into the partnership or agreement to assist with—
(1) the planning, development, and execution of events, activities, or programs designed to promote outdoor recreation for members of the Armed Forces or veterans; or
(2) the acquisition of assistive technology to facilitate improved outdoor recreation opportunities for members of the Armed Forces or veterans.
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§8504. National strategy for military and veteran recreation
(a) Strategy
Not later than 1 year after January 4, 2025, the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation established under section 113 1 shall develop and make public a strategy to increase visits to Federal recreational lands and waters by members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Family members.
(b) Requirements
A strategy developed under subsection (a)—
(1) shall—
(A) establish objectives and quantifiable targets for increasing visits to Federal recreational lands and waters by members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Family members;
(B) include an opportunity for public notice and comment;
(C) emphasize increased recreation opportunities on Federal recreational lands and waters for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Family members; and
(D) provide the anticipated costs to achieve the objectives and meet the targets established under subparagraph (A); and
(2) shall not establish any preference between similar recreation facilitated by noncommercial or commercial entities.
(c) Update to strategy
Not later than 5 years after the date of the publication of the strategy required under subsection (a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation shall update the strategy and make public the update.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 113, referred to in subsec. (a), is section 113 of
1 See References in Text note below.
§8505. Career and volunteer opportunities for veterans
(a) Veteran hiring
The Secretaries are strongly encouraged to hire veterans in all positions related to the management of Federal recreational lands and waters.
(b) Pilot program
(1) Establishment
The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a pilot program under which veterans are employed by the Federal Government in positions that relate to the conservation and resource management activities of the Department of the Interior.
(2) Positions
The Secretary shall—
(A) identify vacant positions in the Department of the Interior that are appropriate to fill using the pilot program; and
(B) to the extent practicable, fill such positions using the pilot program.
(3) Application of civil service laws
A veteran employed under the pilot program shall be treated as an employee as defined by
(4) Briefings and report
(A) Initial briefing
Not later than 60 days after January 4, 2025, the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training shall jointly provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the pilot program under this subsection, which shall include—
(i) a description of how the pilot program will be carried out in a manner to reduce the unemployment of veterans; and
(ii) any recommendations for legislative actions to improve the pilot program.
(B) Implementation briefing
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) 1 commences, the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training shall jointly provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the implementation of the pilot program.
(C) Final report
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) 1 terminates under paragraph (5), the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the pilot program that includes the following:
(i) The number of veterans who applied to participate in the pilot program.
(ii) The number of such veterans employed under the pilot program.
(iii) The number of veterans identified in clause (ii) who transitioned to full-time positions with the Federal Government after participating in the pilot program.
(iv) Any other information the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training determine appropriate with respect to measuring the effectiveness of the pilot program.
(5) Duration
The authority to carry out the pilot program under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the date on which the pilot program commences.
(c) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term "appropriate congressional committees" means—
(1) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(d) Outdoor recreation program attendance
Each Secretary of a military department is encouraged to allow members of the Armed Forces on active duty status to participate in programs related to environmental stewardship or guided outdoor recreation.
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1 So in original. Probably should refer to "this subsection".