Bill would help expand recreational opportunities for veterans on public lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) on Wednesday joined lead sponsor Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) in reintroducing bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2435, to help expand opportunities for military veterans to heal and seek treatment through outdoor recreation and public lands. Similar legislation is being introduced in the Senate by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Steve Daines (R-MT).

“Access to the outdoors can have a tangible and meaningful impact on our veterans’ mental health and physical wellbeing,” said Congressman Adam Smith, lead Democratic cosponsor of the legislation. “In the Pacific Northwest, we see firsthand the restorative power that spending time in nature can have as a part of comprehensive therapy. By bringing together the VA, federal agencies, and stakeholders from veterans and outdoors organizations, the Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act will help increase opportunities for veterans and their families to experience the benefits of the public lands and outdoors spaces that their service to our country has protected. I am proud to join in the reintroduction of this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Chris Smith to help our nation’s veterans and their families experience the outdoors.”

“Veterans hospitals are renowned for intricate and comprehensive specialty surgeries and treatments, but we can and should do more,” said Rep. Chris Smith, former Veterans Committee Chairman. “Studies have shown—and veterans organizations strongly concur—that outdoor recreational activities can provide powerful therapeutic and healing benefits as well as camaraderie for veterans struggling with combat-related injuries or post-traumatic stress,” said Rep. Chris Smith. “We should be thinking outside-the-box to discover as many ways as possible to help veterans, and opening up federal lands and removing barriers to access for remedial outdoor recreation is a no-brainer. My legislation would help increase access to this treatment option.”

Veteran assistance groups have said that access to nature, combined with group activities, have positive therapeutic effects on veterans especially those struggling with combat-related injuries or post-traumatic stress.

The Outdoor Recreation Therapy for Veterans Act would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an inter-agency task force to make recommendations to increase opportunities for veterans to receive treatment and therapy through the use of public lands and outdoor spaces..

Among other actions, the task force would:

• Be co-chaired by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of the Interior and include the Secretaries of HHS, Agriculture, Defense, and Homeland Security, and the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;

• Discover opportunities for collaboration between the VA and public land agencies to increase the opportunities for veterans to enjoy outdoor recreation; and

• Identify obstacles that currently exist to veteran outdoor recreation.

The legislation is supported by various veteran advocacy and outdoor recreation groups, including Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Minority Veterans of America, Blue Star Families, Vet Voice Foundation, Sierra Club, Adventure Not War, REI Co-op, PeopleForBikes, Outdoor Alliance, Outdoor Industry Association, Outdoor Research, and the National Parks Conservation Association.

“Using our public lands for the benefit of veterans is highly valued here in Washington State. I appreciate all the work Congressman Smith and our state veterans department has been doing to expand this concept nationwide,” said Governor Jay Inslee.

“The outdoors provide military families a much-needed place of recreation, rejuvenation, and healing. At Blue Star Families, programs such as Blue Star Parks connect the military community to nature, because the parks make a difference.  An overwhelming majority of military families report that visiting parks provides a much-needed outlet from the stress of their daily lives,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, Founder and CEO of Blue Star Families. “We commend this bi-partisan bill from Congressmen Chris Smith and Adam Smith, and Senators Cortez Masto and Daines, because it will make our nation's backyard more accessible for our veteran community and their families. Protecting and preserving these beautiful lands is one of the reasons we serve and sacrifice, so it means so much to us to enjoy them with our families.”

“The Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act, will connect Veterans to natural resources as a means to transition, a better understanding and guidance for tremendous outcomes.  Washington State has been providing successful outdoor recovery opportunities since 2005.  We are excited about this work taking place at the federal level so we can better serve our Veterans and their families, “ said Lourdes E. Alvarado-Ramos, Director, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs

“Veterans have demanded for years outdoor recreation programs be a part of our health treatment. It is long overdue for the VA to recognize this basic, yet vital need...they now have the opportunity to begin providing Veterans with this service!” said Robert White, VP of Internal Relations for Minority Veterans of America.

“At REI Co-op, we believe a life outdoors is a life well-lived.  It can even be healing, especially for our veterans who have sacrificed much of their lives to protect our nation,” said Eric Artz, REI’s President and CEO.  “We owe them our gratitude not just today, but every day.  So, we applaud congressmen Chris Smith and Adam Smith, and Senators Cortez Masto and Daines for taking this basic step—instructing the VA and the nation’s land managers to determine how our lands can be used to help our veterans heal.  We know the outdoors is good for you.  It’s only right that we make it as easy as possible for our veterans to rejuvenate among the country’s natural wonders.”

“As a combat veteran working at the intersection of public lands and outdoor recreation for veterans and military families, I have experienced the healing power of nature firsthand,” stated Rob Vessels, Director of Sierra Club's Military Outdoors Campaign and Army veteran. “The Sierra Club believes that every veteran should have the opportunity to get outdoors when they return home from service. We applaud and support this bi-partisan bill and thank Congressmen Chris Smith and Adam Smith, as well as all sponsors for their efforts to improve the lives of our veterans. When our veterans thrive, so too does our society.”

“Preliminary evidence suggests that outdoor hiking—combining the benefits of nature contact, group bonding, and physical activity—may be effective in treating veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We also know that nature contact has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and is associated with decreased likelihood of depression,” said Gregory Bratman, Doug Walker Endowed Professor of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington. “This bill would provide an opportunity to maximize use of federal lands to gain more understanding about the ways in which nature experience benefits the people who have served our country, informing the design of future interventions aimed at addressing their pressing mental and physical health needs.”

“This study is needed to recognize the healing power of the outdoors for all users, especially our military veterans.  The benefits are real to anyone who has enjoyed our parks and public lands,” said Ani Kame’enui, Legislative Director of the National Parks Conservation Association.

“Outdoor recreation therapies such as hunting and fishing provide camaraderie and healing for veterans who struggle with the wounds of war. The VFW supports expanding such opportunities for veterans and thanks Congressman Chris Smith for introducing the Outdoor Recreation Therapy for Veterans Act,” said VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace. “This bill would rightfully evaluate and remove barriers to access for veterans who would like to use outdoor activities to cope with their service-related illnesses and injuries.”

“The Vet Voice Foundation strongly endorses the bi-partisan bill co-sponsored by Representatives Chris Smith and Adam Smith and Senators Cortez Masto and Daines to establish a task force on the use of public lands for treatment and therapy through outdoor recreation for Veterans. The health benefits of the outdoors to help our Veteran men and women to walk off the war have long been recognized. We 500,000 members of the VVF applaud this initiative,” the Vet Voice Foundation said in a statement.

“The combination of the outdoors and traditional mental health care has saved lives. Time and time again I’ve witnessed how veterans like myself with PTSD have benefited from the healing properties of nature, effective mental health care, and the rebuilding of community and confidence through challenging outdoor activity with fellow veterans,” said Joshua Brandon, Veteran and Ambassador for Outdoor Research. “While we have learned much about how to leverage nature-based activity in support of traditional healthcare, we still have a long road ahead of us in establishing this as a legitimate means of treatment for our veteran community. This bill by congressmen Adam Smith and Chris Smith, and Senators Cortez Masto and Daines, is a major step forward in achieving this goal. By enabling our veteran healthcare care providers and our land managers to work together to better serve our military community we open the door for much needed work in areas such as research, improved healthcare services, and nontraditional partnerships that will ultimately improve how we take care of our warriors when they return home from war.”

“DAV has supported numerous programs over the years to provide recreational therapies for injured and ill veterans, most notably the DAV and VA co-sponsored National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and National Disabled Veterans TEE Tournament. We know the therapeutic benefit these experiences have, and are pleased to support The Outdoor Recreation Therapy for Veterans Act as it could create even more opportunities for veterans to experience the life-changing power of alternative therapies,” said DAV National Commander Dennis R. Nixon.

“For 100 years The American Legion has been concerned with making veterans heal not just from the wounds of war, but any disabilities or conditions incurred as a result of their military service,” National Commander Brett P. Reistad said. “We also support the use of a wide variety of therapies. Due to the physical requirements to serve in the military, many veterans enjoy outdoor activities. The American Legion welcomes any legislation that combines recreational therapy for veterans with the use of public resources.”

“Outdoor recreation is an important part of caring for America’s veterans.  The legislation being introduced by Rep. Chris Smith and Rep. Adam Smith, and Senators Cortez Masto and Daines, will help to develop needed coordination among our federal agencies to better understand how the outdoors can help and treat those who have served in uniform,” Jenn Dice, Vice Business for the Business Network of PeopleForBikes. “Our veterans deserve the best care available and looking into innovative solutions for leveraging our public lands is something we should all welcome.”

“Our public lands help define us - so much of who we are as a people, and what we have accomplished as a nation arise out of these cherished places,” observed Adam Cramer, Executive Director of Outdoor Alliance. “The power of our public lands to restore is self-evident, so we are delighted with the compassion of congressmen Chris Smith and Adam Smith, and Senators Cortez Masto and Daines, to better connect our veterans with the healing aspects of our public lands.”

“Veterans are integral to the outdoor industry — they rely on our outdoor products when they serve our country and many become key members of the outdoor industry workforce and leadership when they complete their service,” said Amy Roberts, executive director of Outdoor Industry Association. "We are also learning more and more about the unique and powerful connection between mental and physical health and being outdoors — we need to continue to do all we can to ensure that our veterans have access to the outdoors to heal, reconnect and enjoy the special places their service helps keep open and free."

“Time outdoors was the place that put me not just on my healing journey, but my journey fully home when I got home from war. After casting about for two years trying to find a place to call home and a new mission and team, it was rock climbing, and later white water rafting and skiing that truly brought me back home,” said Stacy Bare, OIF Veteran 06-07, 2014 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and Founder of Adventure Not War. “I commend any effort of Congress that helps veterans, service members, and their families, people just like me in making it easier to get outdoors. There are real, scientifically verified health benefits to time outdoors. Perhaps more importantly, time outdoors, structured the right way, helps encourage people to seek and complete traditional treatments. I couldn't be prouder of this bi-partisan effort in Congress!”

On Heels of Barr Immigration Decision, Jayapal, Adam Smith, and Booker Re-Introduce Bill to Counter Attorney General’s Efforts

Bill would directly combat Barr’s decision to indefinitely detain immigrants

WASHINGTON, D.C.—On the heels of Attorney General William Barr’s decision earlier this month to withhold bail from asylum seekers, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced their Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act today. 

The bill would directly combat Attorney General Barr’s efforts to indefinitely detain immigrants by, 1) mandating that all detained immigrants have access to a bond hearing before an immigration judge, and 2) shifting the burden to the government to prove that asylum seekers and other immigrants should be detained because they pose a risk to the community or a flight risk.

The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act also targets the inhumane conditions of detention centers that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to house tens of thousands of immigrants. It would end the use of private prisons and county jails to detain immigrants, set humane standards for detention facilities, increase oversight of these facilities to eliminate abuse and better protect the civil rights of immigrant detainees.

“The high moral cost of our inhumane immigration detention system is reprehensible. The Trump administration’s decision to deny bond hearings for people seeking asylum is just another cruel step in their attacks against asylum seekers and families that will pave the way to more family separation and untenable choices,” Rep. Jayapal said. “Our Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act restores our values as a country by eliminating mandatory detention, protecting vulnerable populations including primary caregivers and asylum-seekers, eliminating the for-profit prison system and ensuring that immigrants are treated with dignity and basic human rights.”

“Our immigration system is broken and the way Donald Trump is choosing to enforce existing immigration laws is dead wrong,” Rep. Smith said. “Our legislation would put an end to the administration’s abuses of the immigration detention system and allow individuals and families to live outside of detention while they await their immigration proceedings. It would also end the abhorrent for-profit detention system that has allowed corporations to profit while immigrants are needlessly kept in detention. There is absolutely no reason for asylum seeking families to languish in detention facilities while they await the outcome of their cases. The Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act recognizes the value of immigrants to our community and brings humanity to a failed immigration system.”

“The Trump Administration has adopted the motto of cruelty for cruelty’s sake and continues to close America’s doors to asylum seekers in their time of need,” Senator Booker said. “The fact that Barr wants to strip asylum seekers of their right to due process violates our Constitution and our country’s values. Our bill will hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable and ensures vulnerable immigrants are treated with the dignity and respect that should be expected in this country.”

Specifically, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act would:

• Ensure all immigrants receive individualized and fair bond hearings by ending the use of mandatory detention of certain immigrants and requiring DHS to establish probable cause of removability within 48 hours of detention.
• Prevent the detention of a primary caregiver (and other vulnerable populations) unless the government can show it is unreasonable or not practicable to place the caregiver in community-based supervision enabling more families to stay together
• End the use of private prisons and county jails for immigration detention over a three-year phase-out period
• Improve detention standards for detention facilities housing immigrants by requiring DHS to match the civil detention standards set forth by the American Bar Association’s Civil Immigration Detention Standards
• Require the DHS Office of Inspector General to conduct unannounced inspections of all immigration detention facilities and stiffen penalties for facilities found to be in violation of DHS’ improved civil detention standards
• Require DHS to investigate all deaths of immigrants in its custody and issue a public report within 60 days