Ian Brickey 314-238-6766, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
Albany, N.Y. -- Today, November 11, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Outdoor Rx Act into law. The bill seeks to removes barriers that prevent New York veterans from accessing the state’s public lands to heal from service-related injuries and trauma. The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Didi Barrett and Sen. Brian Benjamin, passed both houses of the New York State Assembly in February.
In response, Lt. Col. (retired) Aaron Leonard, Sierra Club Military Outdoors Campaign Representative, released the following statement:
"Outdoor Rx will lay the groundwork for providing critical therapeutic and healing benefits for veterans in New York State struggling with post-traumatic stress and other service-related trauma. We look forward to working with the New York State Division of Veterans' Services in the months ahead to examine how the state’s parks and public lands can be made more accessible to all veterans.
“By signing Outdoor Rx into law, Gov. Cuomo has made New York the leader among states in ensuring veterans can access the healing and restorative effects of the outdoors. We thank Assemblymember Barrett and Senator Benjamin for their tireless work to pass this bill. "
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.