Smith Reintroduces Legislation to Enhance Healing and Recovery for Veterans

Matt Hadro · May 1, 2019

Featuring Gregory Bratman, Nature and Health researcher and Steering Committee member

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on Wednesday reintroduced bipartisan legislation, HR 2435, to help military veterans heal and seek treatment through outdoor recreation, by providing them better access to federal lands.

“Veterans hospitals are renowned for intricate and comprehensive specialty surgeries and treatments, but we can and should do more,” said Smith, former Veterans Committee Chairman and author of the Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act (P.L. 108-422), which authorized new research and education centers for treating veterans with complex multi-trauma combat injuries; today there are five major polytrauma rehabilitation centers.

“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 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.”