With the House of Representative's approval of the 2021 Defense budget, Gold Star Families got one step closer to free National Park access.
Included in the massive $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) -- which passed the House Tuesday evening -- is a provision called the "Gold Star Families Park Pass Act." The provision, introduced in March by Independent Sen. Angus King and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden both from Maine, would give the immediate family of service members free access to the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program.
The bill's originated from a constituent's recommendation, Golden said. Golden is a Marine Corps veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan under his belt.
“After a constituent came to us with the idea for this legislation, I went to work with Senator King to make it a reality,” Golden said in March. “Our bill is common sense: families of fallen servicemembers should have free access to our country’s most treasured places. It’s a simple gesture, but it can make a difference in the lives of Gold Star Families and that’s important."
“America’s Gold Star Families have made unimaginable sacrifices for the safety of our country, and we should do everything possible to help them heal,” King said in March. “Our national parks are among America’s greatest treasures, and any family who’s lost a loved one in defense of the United States should be able to access those treasures free of charge. This is not complicated – it’s simply the right thing to do.”
While the NDAA has been cleared by the House, it still has a long legislative road ahead of it before approval.
“Free access to our national parks and public lands is a small but meaningful way for our country to thank Gold Star Families,” Golden said in a statement. “We passed this bill through the House in a bipartisan fashion and I’ll continue working to get it to the president’s desk.”
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