Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3350; text: CR S3349)
This resolution is a non-binding statement by the Senate that names the second Saturday in June as "Veterans Get Outside Day" and encourages federal agencies to promote it. It does not create new law or require those agencies to act, but expresses the Senate's support and recommends coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Forest Service, and the Department of the Interior. Simple resolutions are adopted by one chamber and are used for ceremonial designations and expressions of sentiment. The measure is symbolic and aims to raise awareness and encourage voluntary agency cooperation.
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Res. 272 is a Senate resolution that designates the second Saturday in June as “Veterans Get Outside Day.” The text cites high rates of traumatic brain injury, PTSD, depression, and suicide among veterans and cites research on the mental-health benefits of exposure to nature.
The resolution notes existing programs such as the Forest Service’s National Get Outdoors Day and free park admission for veterans, and it encourages the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Forest Service, and the Department of the Interior to coordinate promotion of Veterans Get Outside Day.
Because this is a simple Senate resolution expressing support and designating a commemorative day, it does not create binding law and therefore has almost no chance of 'becoming law' in the statutory sense. Content-wise it is extremely likely to be adopted in the originating chamber and to face little substantive opposition if introduced in the other chamber, but it is not the type of measure that results in legally binding enactment.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a well-constructed commemorative resolution: it clearly states the rationale for designating the day, uses appropriately simple operative language (designation plus encouragement), and places the designation in the context of existing outreach efforts without attempting statutory change.
Scope vs. substance: progressive wants this paired with funding and concrete services; conservatives emphasize keeping it symbolic and avoiding new federal spending.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Scope vs. substance: progressive wants this paired with funding and concrete services; conservatives emphasize keeping it symbolic and avoiding new federal spending.
A mainstream progressive would generally welcome the resolution as a supportive, low-cost measure that highlights veteran mental-health needs and the therapeutic value of nature.
They would view it as a positive symbolic step but stress that it should not be a substitute for expanded, evidence-based mental-health services and benefits.
They would want the designation paired with outreach and funding to reach underserved veterans, ensure accessibility for disabled veterans, and monitor outcomes.
A pragmatic moderate is likely to view this resolution as a sensible, noncontroversial, bipartisan gesture that honors veterans and encourages healthy, low-cost activity.
They will appreciate that it is symbolic and does not create new regulatory burdens or mandatory spending, but they may ask for clarity on how agencies will coordinate and whether there will be measurable outcomes.
They will support the resolution while urging practical follow-through if the designation is to have lasting impact.
A mainstream conservative would likely view the resolution favorably as a respectful, non-intrusive recognition of veterans that promotes outdoor recreation and self-reliance.
Because it is symbolic and encourages — rather than mandates — agency cooperation, many conservatives will see it as consistent with limited-government principles.
They may prefer private-sector and nonprofit leadership for programs and will be watchful for any future measures that could expand federal spending or program mandates tied to the designation.
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Because this is a simple Senate resolution expressing support and designating a commemorative day, it does not create binding law and therefore has almost no chance of 'becoming law' in the statutory sense. Content-wise it is extremely likely to be adopted in the originating chamber and to face little substantive opposition if introduced in the other chamber, but it is not the type of measure that results in legally binding enactment.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Scope vs. substance: progressive wants this paired with funding and concrete services; conservatives emphasize keeping it symbolic and avoi…
Because this is a simple Senate resolution expressing support and designating a commemorative day, it does not create binding law and there…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a well-constructed commemorative resolution: it clearly states the rationale for designating the day, uses appropriately simple operative language (designation plu…
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