Rep. Ruben Gallego has joined a bipartisan push for legislation that would give veterans and Gold Star families free lifetime access to national parks and public federal lands. The bill, called the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act, has passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously. The VIP Act is also led by Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Jerry Carl. The Act is named after a former staffer for Rep. Raul Grijalva. Alexander Lofgren passed away in a hiking accident in Death Valley in April.
The Act aims to recognize that our active-duty service members, veterans, and Gold Star Families should be treated like VIPs in national parks and on our public lands. In 2020, the Trump administration made America the Beautiful passes free for all veterans and Gold Star families. Passing the VIP act will continue the benefit. The Pass provides access to over 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges. The act will convert those passes into lifetime passes. It will also create annual passes for active-duty military members that can be converted into lifetime passes once they leave the military.
Gallego commented on Twitter, “Today, the House passed my and @RepMMM’s Veterans in Parks Act, a bill to provide veterans & Gold Star families with free lifetime passes to federal public lands and national parks. Our veterans fought to protect these lands – they should be able to enjoy them too.”
“Our service members and Gold Star Families have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country safe and secure, so it’s critical we do everything we can to support them and show them our gratitude,” Carl stated. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation to provide free annual America the Beautiful passes to current military service members, veterans, and Gold Star Families so they can gain free access to all our national parks and public lands.”
Rep. Grijalva commented on Twitter, “#BREAKING the House just passed the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks Act, which would permanently waive national park fees for veterans and gold star families. It’s named after my late staffer, Alex Lofgren, who passed away in a hiking accident in Death Valley. Alex was a friend, colleague, photographer, and avid outdoorsman who saw national parks and public lands as a source of tranquility and peace for veterans like himself. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will forever live on in this legislation.”
