Free Veterans From Fees Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to vote in favor of my bill, H.R. 1702, the Free Veterans from Fees Act of 2019.

To help foster a culture in America in which all veterans are valued for their service to our nation, we need to do our part to assist those who have served in our military. One way we can honor our nation's heroes is to assist them when they visit national war memorials as they remember all those who fought and are not here today.

Throughout the year, several veterans' groups and Gold Star Families visit national war memorials here in Washington, D.C. by honor buses and honor flights through various veterans' organizations. To obtain a permit for their visit, oftentimes veterans' groups must pay administrative fees and other processing costs related to visiting memorials that have been built not only as a testament of their sacrifice, but also to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

This common sense bill would waive the application fee for any special use permits for veterans' demonstration and special events at war memorials on land administrated by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia.

The Free Veterans from Fees Act has bipartisan support and has been endorsed by AMVETS, a veteran organization that represents 250,000 members nationwide.

I thank the House Committee on Natural Resources for holding a hearing on this bill and I am pleased to see it on the legislative calendar. You may also remember this bill was passed through the Committee and through suspension on the House floor last Congress, and we hope that we can get this bill passed under suspension this Congress.

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