ALBANY -- In a unanimous vote, the New York State Senate passed the Outdoor Rx Act on February 26, 2020. The bill, sponsored by state Senator Brian Benjamin (NY-30) and Assemblymember Didi Barrett (NY-106), would lower barriers for veterans to access New York State’s scenic and restorative outdoor spaces. The bill now moves to the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo to await his signature.
In response to the 60-0 vote, Lt. Col. (retired) Aaron Leonard, Sierra Club Military Outdoors Campaign Representative, released the following statement:
ALBANY -- The New York State Assembly unanimously passed the Outdoor Rx Act on February 13, 2020. The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Didi Barrett (D-106), would lower barriers for veterans to access New York State’s beautiful outdoor spaces. The bill now moves to the New York State Senate for final approval before moving to the desk of Governor Andrew Cuomo (D).
Mission, TX-- Today, 12 U.S. Military veterans from the Sierra Club Military Outdoors team and two activists from the Tohono O’odham Nation will begin peacefully camping in at the National Butterfly Center in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, protesting in solidarity with communities along the borderlands and those opposing the border wall. The veterans will highlight the devastating effects of the border wall by meeting with residents and visiting sites in the area in solidarity with borderlands communities and lands.
Mission, TX – Veterans from Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors program will be tent camping on the grounds of the National Butterfly Center from March 5th-12th to protest the border wall, amplify stories of residents of the border and take a stand for communities and lands. The veterans aim to bear witness to the injustices being inflicted on the border communities and amplify the perspectives of Rio Grande Valley residents.
Washington, D.C.– This week, a study from the Great Outdoors Lab was published in Emotion, a journal of the American Psychological Association.
Washington, D.C., -- Yesterday Ryan Zinke blamed veterans, disabled people, “the elderly,” and fourth graders for funding issues in our national parks, telling the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: "When you give discounted or free passes to elderly, fourth graders, veterans, disabled, and you do it by the carload, there's not a whole lot of people who actually pay at our front door.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Vet Voice Foundation and Sierra Club Military Outdoors launched a billboard campaign in Utah today calling for the defense of public lands. The billboards go up the same day as President Trump is visiting the state. Trump is widely expected to announce sweeping reductions to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.
The billboards are placed along I-80 and near Hill Air Force Base.
Photos for the billboards were provided by Jeff Clay | Clayhaus Photography.
Sierra Club Military Outdoors today released its 2018 military and veteran adventure calendar. The calendar includes trips throughout the summer and fall designed to support our military and veteran communities and their families. To view full list of trip offerings and sign up visit: https://www.sierraclub.org/military-outdoors-2018
Robert Vessels with Sierra Club’s National Military Outdoors program will join the class of 2017 Emerging Leaders to lead proceedings at The SHIFT Festival, which starts tomorrow in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Emerging Leaders program honors and trains a diverse group of outdoor recreationists to help revitalize conservation by making it relevant to all Americans.