S. 4197

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4197 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4197

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program 
under which the Secretary shall award grants to certain State entities 
to expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs for veterans 
that enhance veteran wellness, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 25, 2026

Mr. Cramer (for himself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Boozman, and Ms. Slotkin) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program 
under which the Secretary shall award grants to certain State entities 
to expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs for veterans 
that enhance veteran wellness, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation 
Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
VETERANS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 
a program under which the Secretary shall award grants to covered State 
entities to expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs for 
veterans that enhance veteran wellness.
(b) Use of Amounts.--A covered State entity awarded a grant under 
this section may use amounts under such grant as follows:
(1) To directly develop and administer an outdoor 
recreation program for veterans.
(2) To contract with local outfitters, guides, nonprofit 
organizations, or community-based outdoor recreation providers 
to conduct such program.
(3) To develop partnerships to deliver structured outdoor 
programming for veterans.
(4) To reduce financial barriers to participation in such 
program, including equipment, program fees, and reasonable 
transportation costs.
(5) To conduct outreach to veteran populations to raise 
awareness about such program.
(6) To expand an existing outdoor recreation program for 
veterans operated in the State.
(7) To coordinate with Federal agencies involved in land 
management with respect to such program, including the 
following:
(A) The National Park Service.
(B) The Bureau of Land Management.
(C) The Forest Service.
(D) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(E) The Army Corps of Engineers.
(c) Collaboration and Coordination.--
(1) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall encourage 
collaboration between covered State entities participating in 
the grant program under this section and the Federal agencies 
described in subsection (b)(7) to--
(A) expand access by veterans to outdoor spaces;
(B) to reduce administrative barriers; and
(C) to identify appropriate locations for organized 
activities.
(2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall encourage covered 
State entities participating in the grant program under this 
section to coordinate with other covered State entities to 
maximize access by veterans to outdoor recreation 
opportunities.
(d) Application Requirements.--To receive a grant under this 
section, a covered State entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application therefor that includes the following:
(1) A plan for administering funds awarded under such 
grant.
(2) Criteria for selecting partners for the outdoor 
recreation program or programs carried out by such entity.
(3) A certification that the outdoor recreation program or 
programs carried out by such entity meet qualification 
standards determined by the State.
(4) Methods for collecting data for participation in the 
outdoor recreation program or programs carried out by such 
entity.
(e) Approval of Application and Funding Amounts.--
(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, each covered State entity that submits an 
application meeting the requirements under subsection (d) for a 
grant under this section shall be approved to receive such 
grant in an amount of not less than $200,000 for the applicable 
fiscal year.
(2) Additional amounts.--If additional amounts are 
available for a fiscal year to carry out this section, those 
additional amounts shall be distributed among the covered State 
entities for which an application under subsection (d) was 
approved under paragraph (1).
(f) Reports.--Not less frequently than annually, each covered State 
entity in receipt of a grant under this section shall submit to the 
Secretary a report that includes the following:
(1) Participation metrics regarding any outdoor recreation 
program carried out by such entity with amounts provided under 
such grant, including--
(A) the types of activities funded and partnerships 
established under such program;
(B) the number of veterans served under such 
program;
(C) frequency of participation by veterans under 
such program; and
(D) demographic distribution of veterans 
participating in such program.
(2) Observations with respect to any outdoor recreation 
program carried out by such entity, including--
(A) self-reported changes in well-being of 
veterans;
(B) social connectedness indicators; and
(C) physical activity engagement.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Outdoor recreation program.--The term ``outdoor 
recreation program'' means a nature-based activity designed to 
improve the mental and physical well-being of veterans, 
including activities that promote physical engagement, peer 
connection, skill-building, or therapeutic benefit, and may 
include adaptive or accessible activities designed to 
accommodate veterans with disabilities.
(2) Covered state entity.--The term ``covered State 
entity'' means the primary agency of a State that is 
responsible for programs and services for veterans.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $10,000,000 for each 
fiscal year to carry out this section.
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