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A bill that would give all veterans and Gold Star families free access to national parks and public federal lands for life and was named after Alexander Lofgren, an Arizona congressional aide who died at Death Valley National Park in April, passed through the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.
The Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act — bipartisan bill H.R. 4300 — would permanently waive national park fees for any veteran or Gold Star family member. The legislation would also give free annual passes to active-duty military for national parks and federal recreational lands.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, a veteran who served 24 years in the Army, presented the bill with U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is also a veteran, in July.