{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-shaheen-bill-ensuring-access-national-parks-disabled-veterans-signed-law", "Collins, Shaheen Bill Ensuring Access to National Parks for Disabled Veterans Signed into Law", "2020-12-05", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ME", "Susan Collins", "C001035", "www.collins.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. TheWounded Veterans Recreation Act bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME)and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) was signed into law. TheWounded Veterans Recreation Actwill ensure free lifetime entry to U.S. national parks and other federal lands for all veterans who incurred or aggravated disabilities while serving in the U.S. military.\n\nUnder theFederal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), individuals must be classified as having a permanent disability in order to be eligible for a free National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, leaving uncertainty as to whether all wounded veterans have access to this program. The Wounded Veterans Recreation Act clarifies the current statute to ensure that these heroes always have access to America's outdoor recreational lands.\n\nThe brave men and women who have served in our military and have been wounded defending our nation should always have free access to our national parks and recreational areas  the American land they fought to protect,said Senator Collins. From Acadia to Denali, and everywhere in between, this law will ensure that disabled veterans can continue to access our country's national treasures for outdoor recreation, which can help heal both the visible and invisible wounds of war.\n\nThis new law is just one way to show our appreciation for our veterans, who have sacrificed so much for this country. Access to our parks and lands is helpful to many veterans with rehabilitation, so I'm very happy to see our bipartisan effort to ensure that access  free of charge  become law,said Senator Shaheen. We owe our veterans the very best when they come home to help them build safe, healthy and happy lives. I look forward to building on the bipartisan spirit that gave way to this new law so we can continue to deliver for our veterans.\n\nThe text of theWounded Veterans Recreation Actcan be readhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-shaheen-bill-ensuring-access-national-parks-disabled-veterans-signed-law"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0306588374078274, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}