,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #daig ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #be1 #bjbf,mr4 ,cramer 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 and ,ms4 ,slotkin7 introduced the following bill2 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 wellness1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veterans ,outdoor ,rehabilitation ,act4 #b4 ,grant program to support outdoor recreation opportunities for veterans 7a7 ,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 wellness4 7b7 ,use of amounts ,a covered ,state entity awarded a grant under this section may use amounts under such grant as follows3 7#a7 ,to directly develop and administer an outdoor recreation program for veterans4 7#b7 ,to contract with local outfitters1 guides1 nonprofit organizations1 or community-based outdoor recreation providers to conduct such program4 7#c7 ,to develop partnerships to deliver structured outdoor programming for veterans4 7#d7 ,to reduce financial barriers to participation in such program1 including equipment1 program fees1 and reasonable transportation costs4 7#e7 ,to conduct outreach to veteran populations to raise awareness about such program4 7#f7 ,to expand an existing outdoor recreation program for veterans operated in the ,state4 7#g7 ,to coordinate with ,federal agencies involved in land management with respect to such program1 including the following3 7,a7 ,the ,national ,park ,service4 7,b7 ,the ,bureau of ,land ,management4 7,c7 ,the ,forest ,service4 7,d7 ,the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7,e7 ,the ,army ,corps of ,engineers4 7c7 ,collaboration and coordination 7#a7 ,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 7b77#g7 to-- 7,a7 expand access by veterans to outdoor spaces2 7,b7 to reduce administrative barriers2 and 7,c7 to identify appropriate locations for organized activities4 7#b7 ,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 opportunities4 7d7 ,application requirements ,to receive a grant under this section1 a covered ,state entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application therefor that includes the following3 7#a7 ,a plan for administering funds awarded under such grant4 7#b7 ,criteria for selecting partners for the outdoor recreation program or programs carried out by such entity4 7#c7 ,a certification that the outdoor recreation program or programs carried out by such entity meet qualification standards determined by the ,state4 7#d7 ,methods for collecting data for participation in the outdoor recreation program or programs carried out by such entity4 7e7 ,approval of application and funding amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 each covered ,state entity that submits an application meeting the requirements under subsection 7d7 for a grant under this section shall be approved to receive such grant in an amount of not less than #bjj1jjj for the applicable fiscal year4 7#b7 ,additional amounts ,if additional amounts are available for a fiscal year to carry out this section1 those additional amounts shall be distributed among the covered ,state entities for which an application under subsection 7d7 was approved under paragraph 7#a74 7f7 ,reports ,not less frequently than annually1 each covered ,state entity in receipt of a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary a report that includes the following3 7#a7 ,participation metrics regarding any outdoor recreation program carried out by such entity with amounts provided under such grant1 including-- 7,a7 the types of activities funded and partnerships established under such program2 7,b7 the number of veterans served under such program2 7,c7 frequency of participation by veterans under such program2 and 7,d7 demographic distribution of veterans participating in such program4 7#b7 ,observations with respect to any outdoor recreation program carried out by such entity1 including-- 7,a7 self-reported changes in well-being of veterans2 7,b7 social connectedness indicators2 and 7,c7 physical activity engagement4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,outdoor recreation program ,the term outdoor recreation program means a nature-based activity designed to improve the mental and physical well-being of veterans1 including activities that promote physical engagement1 peer connection1 skill-building1 or therapeutic benefit1 and may include adaptive or accessible activities designed to accommodate veterans with disabilities4 7#b7 ,covered ,state entity ,the term covered ,state entity means the primary agency of a ,state that is responsible for programs and services for veterans4 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs #aj1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year to carry out this section4