Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans’ (VA-02) bipartisan Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives as a part of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50) joined Congresswoman Kiggans to introduce the legislation. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
The MVP Act aims to improve disabled veterans’ physical and mental health by increasing their access to outdoor recreation activities in National Parks and on federal lands. Specifically, the legislation would direct the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and National Park Service (NPS) to develop adaptive trails and campgrounds in the regions they manage – as well as accessible hunting, fishing, and kayaking opportunities.