Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the launch of the Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans, with the goal of reporting on and making recommendations regarding the use of public lands or other outdoor spaces for medical treatment and therapy for veterans. The task force was established as part of the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020, legislation that Sierra Club supported for years.
In response, Sierra Club Military Outdoors Campaign Manager Aaron Leonard released the following statement:
“It is exciting to see the efforts of so many organizations finally come to fruition as this task force launches. For years, veterans outdoor recreation groups have been leading the charge in promoting and expanding access to outdoor recreation for veterans. The outdoors offer mental and physical health benefits for many veterans dealing with service-related trauma, but barriers such as transportation and education have prevented many veterans from experiencing its full effects. This task force represents a commitment from the federal government to support the efforts of groups like the Sierra Club to facilitate use of public lands and therapeutic interventions for veterans.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.