IB 

Union Calendar No. 744 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6342 

[Report No. 118–911, Part I] 

To promote and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for members of 

the Armed Forces and veterans on Federal recreational lands and waters. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 9, 2023 

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia (for herself and Mr. PETERS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 

and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Veterans’ Affairs, 

for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 

for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 

committee concerned 

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Mr. CISCOMANI, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, Mr. MOYLAN, 

Ms. LEE of Florida, and Mr. NICKEL

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Committees on Agriculture and Veterans’ Affairs discharged; committed to the 

Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered 

to be printed 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 9, 2023] 


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A BILL 

To promote and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities 

for members of the Armed Forces and veterans on Federal recreational lands and waters. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Military and Veterans 

5 in Parks Act’’ or the ‘‘MVP Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ACCESSIBLE TRAIL.—The term ‘‘accessible 

9 trail’’ means a trail that meets the requirements for 

10 a trail under the Architectural Barriers Act accessi11 bility guidelines. 

12 (2) ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS ACT ACCESSI13 BILITY GUIDELINES.—The term ‘‘Architectural Bar14 riers Act accessibility guidelines’’ means the accessi15 bility guidelines set forth in appendices C and D to 

16 part 1191 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or 

17 successor regulations). 

18 (3) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘assist19 ive technology’’ means any item, piece of equipment, 

20 or product system, whether acquired commercially, 

21 modified, or customized, that is used to increase, 

22 maintain, or improve functional capabilities of indi23 viduals with disabilities, particularly with partici24 pating in outdoor recreation activities. 


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1 (4) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY.—The 

2 term ‘‘Federal land management agency’’ has the 

3 meaning given the term in section 802 of the Federal 

4 Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 

5 6801). 

6 (5) FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS AND

7 WATERS.—The term ‘‘Federal recreational lands and 

8 waters’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

9 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement 

10 Act (16 U.S.C. 6801). 

11 (6) GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMBER.—The term 

12 ‘‘Gold Star Family member’’ means an individual de13 scribed in section 3.3 of Department of Defense In14 struction 1348.36. 

15 (7) OUTDOOR CONSTRUCTED FEATURE.—The 

16 term ‘‘outdoor constructed feature’’ has the meaning 

17 given such term in appendix C to part 1191 of title 

18 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regula19 tions). 

20 (8) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ 

21 means each of— 

22 (A) the Secretary; and 

23 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture. 

24 (9) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

25 the Secretary of the Interior. 


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1 (10) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec2 retary concerned’’ means— 

3 (A) the Secretary, with respect to land 

4 under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; or 

5 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re6 spect to land managed by the Forest Service. 

7 (11) VETERANS ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘vet8 erans organization’’ means a service provider with 

9 outdoor recreation experience that serves members of 

10 the Armed Forces, veterans, or Gold Star Family 

11 members. 

12 TITLE I—ACCESS FOR PEOPLE 

13 WITH DISABILITIES 

14 SEC. 101. ACCESSIBLE RECREATION INVENTORY. 

15 (a) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 5 years after the 

16 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned 

17 shall— 

18 (1) carry out a comprehensive assessment of out19 door recreation facilities on Federal recreational 

20 lands and waters under the jurisdiction of the respec21 tive Secretary concerned to determine the accessibility 

22 of such outdoor recreation facilities, consistent with 

23 the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 

24 4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation 

25 Act (29 U.S.C. 794), including— 


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1 (A) camp shelters, camping facilities, and 

2 camping units; 

3 (B) boat launch ramps; 

4 (C) hunting, fishing, shooting, or archery 

5 ranges or locations; 

6 (D) outdoor constructed features; 

7 (E) picnic facilities and picnic units; and 

8 (F) any other outdoor recreation facilities, 

9 as determined by the Secretary concerned; and 

10 (2) make information about such opportunities 

11 available (including through the use of prominently 

12 displayed links) on public websites of— 

13 (A) each of the Federal land management 

14 agencies; and 

15 (B) each relevant unit and subunit of the 

16 Federal land management agencies. 

17 (b) INCLUSION OF CURRENT ASSESSMENTS.—As part 

18 of the comprehensive assessment required under subsection 

19 (a)(1), to the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned 

20 may rely on assessments completed or data gathered prior 

21 to the date of the enactment of this Act. 

22 (c) PUBLIC INFORMATION.—Not later than 7 years 

23 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

24 concerned shall identify opportunities to create, update, or 

25 replace signage and other publicly available information, 


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1 including web page information, related to accessibility and 

2 consistent with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 

3 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation 

4 Act (29 U.S.C. 794) at outdoor recreation facilities covered 

5 by the assessment required under subsection (a)(1). 

6 SEC. 102. TRAIL INVENTORY. 

7 (a) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 7 years after the 

8 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned 

9 shall— 

10 (1) conduct a comprehensive assessment of high11 priority trails, in accordance with subsection (b), on 

12 Federal recreational lands and waters under the ju13 risdiction of the respective Secretary concerned, in14 cluding measuring each trail’s— 

15 (A) average and minimum tread width; 

16 (B) average and maximum running slope; 

17 (C) average and maximum cross slope; 

18 (D) tread type; and 

19 (E) length; and 

20 (2) make information about such high-priority 

21 trails available (including through the use of promi22 nently displayed links) on public websites of— 

23 (A) each of the Federal land management 

24 agencies; and 


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1 (B) each relevant unit and subunit of the 

2 Federal land management agencies. 

3 (b) SELECTION.—The Secretary concerned shall select 

4 high-priority trails to be assessed under subsection (a)(1)— 

5 (1) in consultation with stakeholders, including 

6 veterans organizations and organizations with exper7 tise or experience providing outdoor recreation oppor8 tunities to individuals with disabilities; 

9 (2) in a geographically equitable manner; and 

10 (3) in no fewer than 15 units or subunits man11 aged by the Secretary concerned. 

12 (c) INCLUSION OF CURRENT ASSESSMENTS.—As part 

13 of the assessment required under subsection (a)(1), the Sec14 retary concerned may, to the extent practicable, rely on as15 sessments completed or data gathered prior to the date of 

16 the enactment of this Act. 

17 (d) PUBLIC INFORMATION.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 7 years after 

19 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

20 concerned shall identify opportunities to replace sign21 age and other publicly available information, includ22 ing web page information, related to such high-pri23 ority trails and consistent with the Architectural Bar24 riers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 

25 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794) at 


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1 high-priority trails covered by the assessment required 

2 under subsection (a)(1). 

3 (2) TREAD OBSTACLES.—As part of the assess4 ment required under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary 

5 may, to the extent practicable, include photographs or 

6 descriptions of tread obstacles and barriers. 

7 (e) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIFICATION.—In pub8 lishing information about each trail under this subsection, 

9 the Secretary concerned shall make public information 

10 about trails that do not meet the Architectural Barriers Act 

11 accessibility guidelines but could otherwise provide outdoor 

12 recreation opportunities to individuals with disabilities 

13 through the use of certain assistive technology. 

14 SEC. 103. TRAIL PILOT PROGRAM. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 

16 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned 

17 shall carry out a pilot program to enter into partnerships 

18 with eligible entities to— 

19 (1) measure high-priority trails as part of the 

20 assessment required under section 102; 

21 (2) develop accessible trails under section 104; 

22 and 

23 (3) make minor modifications to existing trails 

24 to enhance recreational experiences for individuals 

25 with disabilities using assistive technology— 


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1 (A) in compliance with all applicable land 

2 use and management plans of the Federal rec3 reational lands and waters on which the acces4 sible trail is located; and 

5 (B) in consultation with stakeholders, in6 cluding veterans organizations and organizations 

7 with expertise or experience providing outdoor 

8 recreation opportunities to individuals with dis9 abilities. 

10 (b) LOCATIONS.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall 

12 select no fewer than 5 units or subunits under the ju13 risdiction of the respective Secretary concerned to 

14 carry out the pilot program established under sub15 section (a). 

16 (2) SPECIAL RULE OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE

17 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.—In selecting the lo18 cations of the pilot program, the Secretary shall en19 sure that the pilot program is carried out in at least 

20 one unit managed by the— 

21 (A) National Park Service; 

22 (B) Bureau of Land Management; and 

23 (C) United States Fish and Wildlife Serv24 ice. 


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1 (c) SUNSET.—The pilot program established under this 

2 subsection shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after 

3 the date of the enactment of this Act. 

4 SEC. 104. ACCESSIBLE TRAILS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

6 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall 

7 select a location or locations to develop at least 3 new acces8 sible trails— 

9 (1) on National Forest System lands in each re10 gion of the Forest Service; 

11 (2) on land managed by the National Park Serv12 ice in each region of the National Park Service; 

13 (3) on land managed by the Bureau of Land 

14 Management in each region of the Bureau of Land 

15 Management; and 

16 (4) on land managed by the United States Fish 

17 and Wildlife Service in each region of the United 

18 States Fish and Wildlife Service. 

19 (b) DEVELOPMENT.—In developing an accessible trail 

20 under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned— 

21 (1) may— 

22 (A) create a new accessible trail; 

23 (B) modify an existing trail into an acces24 sible trail; or 


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1 (C) create an accessible trail from a com2 bination of new and existing trails; and 

3 (2) shall— 

4 (A) consult with stakeholders with respect to 

5 the feasibility and resources necessary for com6 pleting the accessible trail; 

7 (B) ensure the accessible trail complies with 

8 the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 

9 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the Reha10 bilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794); and 

11 (C) to the extent practicable, ensure that 

12 outdoor constructed features supporting the ac13 cessible trail, including trail bridges, parking 

14 spaces, and restroom facilities, meet the require15 ments of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 

16 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the 

17 Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794). 

18 (c) COMPLETION.—Not later than 7 years after the 

19 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, 

20 in coordination with stakeholders described under sub21 section (b)(2), shall complete each accessible trail developed 

22 under subsection (a). 

23 (d) MAPS, SIGNAGE, AND PROMOTIONAL MATE24 RIALS.—For each accessible trail developed under sub25 section (a), the Secretary concerned shall— 


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1 (1) publish and distribute maps and install sign2 age, consistent with Architectural Barriers Act of 

3 1968 accessibility guidelines and section 508 of the 

4 Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d); and 

5 (2) coordinate with stakeholders to leverage any 

6 non-Federal resources necessary for the development, 

7 stewardship, completion, or promotion of the acces8 sible trail. 

9 (e) CONFLICT AVOIDANCE WITH OTHER USES.—In de10 veloping each accessible trail under subsection (a), the Sec11 retary concerned shall ensure that the accessible trail— 

12 (1) minimizes conflict with— 

13 (A) the uses in effect before the date of the 

14 enactment of this Act with respect to any trail 

15 that is part of that accessible trail; 

16 (B) multiple-use areas where biking, hiking, 

17 horseback riding, off-highway vehicle recreation, 

18 or use by pack and saddle stock are existing uses 

19 on the date of the enactment of this Act; or 

20 (C) the purposes for which any trail is es21 tablished under the National Trails System Act 

22 (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.); and 

23 (2) complies with all applicable land use and 

24 management plans of the Federal recreational lands 

25 and waters on which the accessible trail is located. 


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1 (f) REPORTS.— 

2 (1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 3 years 

3 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec4 retary concerned, in coordination with stakeholders 

5 and other interested organizations, shall prepare and 

6 publish an interim report that lists the accessible 

7 trails developed under this section during the previous 

8 3 years. 

9 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 7 years after 

10 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

11 concerned, in coordination with stakeholders and 

12 other interested organizations, shall prepare and pub13 lish a final report that lists the accessible trails devel14 oped under this section. 

15 SEC. 105. ACCESSIBLE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

17 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall 

18 select a location to develop at least 2 new accessible recre19 ation opportunities— 

20 (1) on National Forest System lands in each re21 gion of the Forest Service; 

22 (2) on land managed by the National Park Serv23 ice in each region of the National Park Service; 


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1 (3) on land managed by the Bureau of Land 

2 Management in each region of the Bureau of Land 

3 Management; and 

4 (4) on land managed by the United States Fish 

5 and Wildlife Service in each region of the United 

6 States Fish and Wildlife Service. 

7 (b) DEVELOPMENT.—In developing an accessible recre8 ation opportunity under subsection (a), the Secretary con9 cerned— 

10 (1) may— 

11 (A) create a new accessible recreation op12 portunity; or 

13 (B) modify an existing recreation oppor14 tunity into an accessible recreation opportunity; 

15 and 

16 (2) shall— 

17 (A) consult with stakeholders with respect to 

18 the feasibility and resources necessary for com19 pleting the accessible recreation opportunity; 

20 (B) ensure the accessible recreation oppor21 tunity complies with the Architectural Barriers 

22 Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 

23 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794); 

24 and 


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1 (C) to the extent practicable, ensure that 

2 outdoor constructed features supporting the ac3 cessible recreation opportunity, including trail 

4 bridges, parking spaces and restroom facilities, 

5 meet the requirements of the Architectural Bar6 riers Act of 1968 and section 504 of the Rehabili7 tation Act (29 U.S.C. 794). 

8 (c) ACCESSIBLE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.—The 

9 accessible recreation opportunities developed under sub10 section (a) may include improving accessibility or access 

11 to— 

12 (1) camp shelters, camping facilities, and camp13 ing units; 

14 (2) hunting, fishing, shooting, or archery ranges 

15 or locations; 

16 (3) snow activities, including skiing and 

17 snowboarding; 

18 (4) water activities, including kayaking, pad19 dling, canoeing, and boat launch ramps; 

20 (5) rock climbing; 

21 (6) biking; 

22 (7) off-highway vehicle recreation; 

23 (8) picnic facilities and picnic units; 

24 (9) outdoor constructed features; and 


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1 (10) any other new or existing recreation oppor2 tunities identified in consultation with stakeholders 

3 under subsection (b)(2) and consistent with the appli4 cable land management plan. 

5 (d) COMPLETION.—Not later than 7 years after the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, 

7 in coordination with stakeholders consulted with under sub8 section (b)(2), shall complete each accessible recreation op9 portunity developed under subsection (a). 

10 (e) MAPS, SIGNAGE, AND PROMOTIONAL MATE11 RIALS.—For each accessible recreation opportunity devel12 oped under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall— 

13 (1) publish and distribute maps and install sign14 age, consistent with Architectural Barriers Act acces15 sibility guidelines and section 508 of the Rehabilita16 tion Act (29 U.S.C. 794d); and 

17 (2) coordinate with stakeholders to leverage any 

18 non-Federal resources necessary for the development, 

19 stewardship, completion, or promotion of the acces20 sible trail. 

21 (f) CONFLICT AVOIDANCE WITH OTHER USES.—In de22 veloping each accessible recreation opportunity under sub23 section (a), the Secretary concerned shall ensure that the 

24 accessible recreation opportunity— 

25 (1) minimizes conflict with— 


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1 (A) the uses in effect before the date of the 

2 enactment of this Act with respect to any Fed3 eral recreational lands and waters on which the 

4 accessible recreation opportunity is located; or 

5 (B) multiple-use areas in existence on the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act; and 

7 (2) complies with all applicable land use and 

8 management plans of the Federal recreational lands 

9 and waters on which the accessible recreational op10 portunity is located. 

11 (g) REPORTS.— 

12 (1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 3 years 

13 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec14 retary concerned, in coordination with stakeholders 

15 and other interested organizations, shall prepare and 

16 publish an interim report that lists the accessible 

17 recreation opportunities developed under this section 

18 during the previous 3 years. 

19 (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 7 years after 

20 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

21 concerned, in coordination with stakeholders and 

22 other interested organizations, shall prepare and pub23 lish a final report that lists the accessible recreation 

24 opportunities developed under this section. 


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1 SEC. 106. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY. 

2 In carrying out this title, the Secretary concerned may 

3 enter into partnerships, contracts, or agreements with other 

4 Federal, State, Tribal, local, or private entities, including 

5 existing outfitting and guiding services, to make assistive 

6 technology available on Federal recreational lands and 

7 waters. 

8 SEC. 107. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 

9 Nothing in the title shall be construed to create any 

10 conflicting standards with the Architectural Barriers Act 

11 of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and section 504 of the Re12 habilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794). 

13 TITLE II—MILITARY AND 

14 VETERANS IN PARKS 

15 SEC. 201. PROMOTION OF OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR 

16 MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS. 

17 Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 

18 of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in coordination with 

19 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of De20 fense, shall develop educational and public awareness mate21 rials to disseminate to members of the Armed Forces and 

22 veterans, including through preseparation counseling of the 

23 Transition Assistance Program under chapter 1142 of title 

24 10, United States Code, on— 

25 (1) opportunities for members of the Armed 

26 Forces and veterans to access Federal recreational 


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1 lands and waters free of charge under section 805 of 

2 the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

3 U.S.C. 6804), including by prominently displaying 

4 signage, to the extent practicable, at Federal rec5 reational lands and waters managed by the National 

6 Park Service; 

7 (2) the availability and location of accessible 

8 trails, including new accessible trails developed and 

9 completed under section 104; 

10 (3) the availability and location of accessible 

11 recreation opportunities, including new accessible 

12 recreation opportunities developed and completed 

13 under section 105; 

14 (4) access to, and assistance with, assistive tech15 nology; 

16 (5) outdoor-related volunteer and wellness pro17 grams; 

18 (6) the benefits of outdoor recreation for physical 

19 and mental health; 

20 (7) resources to access guided outdoor trips and 

21 other outdoor programs connected to the Department 

22 of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 

23 Department of the Interior, or the Department of Ag24 riculture; and 


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1 (8) programs and jobs focused on continuing na2 tional service such as Public Land Corps, 

3 AmeriCorps, and conservation corps programs. 

4 SEC. 202. MILITARY VETERANS OUTDOOR RECREATION LI5 AISONS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

7 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries and the Sec8 retary of Veterans Affairs shall each establish within their 

9 Departments the position of Military Veterans Outdoor 

10 Recreation Liaison. 

11 (b) DUTIES.—The Military Veterans Outdoor Recre12 ation Liaison shall— 

13 (1) coordinate the implementation of this title; 

14 (2) implement recommendations identified by the 

15 Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans estab16 lished under section 203 of the Veterans Comprehen17 sive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 

18 2020 (Public Law 116–214), including recommenda19 tions related to— 

20 (A) identifying new opportunities to for21 malize coordination between the Department of 

22 Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, De23 partment of the Interior, and partner organiza24 tions regarding the use of Federal recreational 


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1 lands and waters for facilitating health and 

2 wellness for veterans; 

3 (B) addressing identified barriers that exist 

4 to providing veterans with opportunities to aug5 ment the delivery of services for health and 

6 wellness through the use of outdoor recreation on 

7 Federal recreational lands and waters; and 

8 (C) facilitating the use of Federal rec9 reational lands and waters for promoting 

10 wellness and facilitating the delivery of health 

11 care and therapeutic interventions for veterans; 

12 (3) coordinate with Military Veterans Outdoor 

13 Recreation Liaisons at other Federal agencies and 

14 veterans organizations; and 

15 (4) promote outdoor recreation experiences for 

16 veterans on Federal recreational lands and waters 

17 through new and innovative approaches. 

18 SEC. 203. PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE MILITARY AND VET19 ERAN RECREATION. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned shall seek 

21 to enter into partnerships or agreements with State, Tribal, 

22 local, or private entities with expertise in outdoor recre23 ation, volunteer, accessibility, and health and wellness pro24 grams for members of the Armed Forces or veterans. 


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1 (b) PARTNERSHIPS.—As part of a partnership or 

2 agreement entered into under subsection (a), the Secretary 

3 concerned may host events on Federal recreational lands 

4 and waters designed to promote outdoor recreation among 

5 members of the Armed Forces and veterans. 

6 (c) FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Under 

7 a partnership or agreement entered into pursuant to sub8 section (a), the Secretary concerned may provide financial 

9 or technical assistance to the entity with which the respec10 tive Secretary concerned has entered into the partnership 

11 or agreement to assist with— 

12 (1) the planning, development, and execution of 

13 events, activities, or programs designed to promote 

14 outdoor recreation for members of the Armed Forces 

15 or veterans; or 

16 (2) the acquisition of assistive technology to fa17 cilitate improved outdoor recreation opportunities for 

18 members of the Armed Forces or veterans. 

19 SEC. 204. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR MILITARY AND VET20 ERAN RECREATION. 

21 (a) STRATEGY.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

22 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, acting jointly, 

23 shall develop and make public a strategy to increase visits 

24 to Federal recreational lands and waters by members of the 

25 Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Family members. 


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1 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—A strategy developed under sub2 section (a)— 

3 (1) shall— 

4 (A) establish objectives and quantifiable tar5 gets for increasing visits to Federal recreational 

6 lands and waters by members of the Armed 

7 Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Family mem8 bers; 

9 (B) include an opportunity for public no10 tice and comment; 

11 (C) emphasize increased recreation opportu12 nities on Federal recreational lands and waters 

13 for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and 

14 Gold Star Family members; and 

15 (D) provide the anticipated costs to achieve 

16 the objectives and meet the targets established 

17 under subparagraph (A); and 

18 (2) shall not establish any preference between 

19 similar recreation facilitated by noncommercial or 

20 commercial entities. 

21 (c) UPDATE TO STRATEGY.—Not later than 5 years 

22 after the date of the publication of the strategy required 

23 under subsection (a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Sec24 retaries, acting jointly, shall update the strategy and make 

25 public the update. 


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1 SEC. 205. RECREATION RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 

2 Section 804(d) of the Federal Lands Recreation En3 hancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6803(d)), is amended— 

4 (1) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ‘‘11’’ and 

5 inserting ‘‘12’’; and 

6 (2) in paragraph (5)(D)(ii)— 

7 (A) by striking ‘‘Three’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘Four’’; and 

9 (B) after subclause (III), by inserting the 

10 following: 

11 ‘‘(IV) Veterans organizations, as 

12 such term is defined in section 201 of 

13 the MVP Act.’’; and 

14 (3) in paragraph (8) by striking ‘‘Eight’’ and 

15 inserting ‘‘Six’’. 

16 SEC. 206. CAREER AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR 

17 VETERANS. 

18 (a) VETERAN HIRING.—The Secretaries are strongly 

19 encouraged to hire veterans in all positions related to the 

20 management of Federal recreational lands and waters. 

21 (b) PILOT PROGRAM.— 

22 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in con23 sultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 

24 Veterans’ Employment and Training and the Sec25 retary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a pilot pro26 gram under which veterans are employed by the FedVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Dec 20, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H6342.RH H6342

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1 eral Government in positions that relate to the con2 servation and resource management activities of the 

3 Department of the Interior. 

4 (2) POSITIONS.—The Secretary shall— 

5 (A) identify vacant positions in the Depart6 ment of the Interior that are appropriate to fill 

7 using the pilot program; and 

8 (B) to the extent practicable, fill such posi9 tions using the pilot program. 

10 (3) APPLICATION OF CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.—A 

11 veteran employed under the pilot program shall be 

12 treated as an employee as defined by section 2105 of 

13 title 5, United States Code. 

14 (4) BRIEFINGS AND REPORT.— 

15 (A) INITIAL BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 

16 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

17 the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of 

18 Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training 

19 shall jointly provide to the appropriate congres20 sional committees a briefing on the pilot pro21 gram under this subsection, which shall in22 clude— 

23 (i) a description of how the pilot pro24 gram will be carried out in a manner to re25 duce the unemployment of veterans; and 


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•HR 6342 RH

1 (ii) any recommendations for legisla2 tive actions to improve the pilot program. 

3 (B) IMPLEMENTATION BRIEFING.—Not later 

4 than 1 year after the date on which the pilot 

5 program under subsection (a) commences, the 

6 Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor 

7 for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall 

8 jointly provide to the appropriate congressional 

9 committees a briefing on the implementation of 

10 the pilot program. 

11 (C) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 30 

12 days after the date on which the pilot program 

13 under subsection (a) terminates under paragraph 

14 (5), the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of 

15 Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training 

16 shall jointly submit to the appropriate congres17 sional committees a report on the pilot program 

18 that includes the following: 

19 (i) The number of veterans who ap20 plied to participate in the pilot program. 

21 (ii) The number of such veterans em22 ployed under the pilot program. 

23 (iii) The number of veterans identified 

24 in clause (ii) who transitioned to full-time 


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1 positions with the Federal Government after 

2 participating in the pilot program. 

3 (iv) Any other information the Sec4 retary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor 

5 for Veterans’ Employment and Training de6 termine appropriate with respect to meas7 uring the effectiveness of the pilot program. 

8 (5) DURATION.—The authority to carry out the 

9 pilot program under this subsection shall terminate 

10 on the date that is 2 years after the date on which 

11 the pilot program commences. 

12 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE13 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres14 sional committees’’ means— 

15 (1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the 

16 Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep17 resentatives; and 

18 (2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the 

19 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 

20 Senate. 

21 (d) OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAM ATTENDANCE.— 

22 Each Secretary of a military department is encouraged to 

23 allow members of the Armed Forces on active duty status 

24 to participate in programs related to environmental stew25 ardship or guided outdoor recreation. 


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Union Calendar No. 744 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6342 

[Report No. 118–911, Part I] 

A BILL 

To promote and enhance outdoor recreation opporwaters. veterans on Federal recreational lands and tunities for members of the Armed Forces and 

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with 

an amendment 

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Committees on Agriculture and Veterans’ Affairs disprinted House on the State of the Union and ordered to be charged; committed to the Committee of the Whole 


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