U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) in introducing the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, legislation aimed at helping former servicemembers access outdoor recreation opportunities to improve their well-being.
Advance legislation to expand outdoor rehabilitation opportunities for veterans to support their well-being.
Occurrences
Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Boozman (R-AR), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act to expand veteran access to structured outdoor recreation programs across the country.
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program under which the Secretary shall award grants to certain State entities to expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs for veterans that enhance veteran wellness, and for other purposes.
Evidence
U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) in introducing the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, legislation aimed at helping former servicemembers access outdoor recreation opportunities to improve their well-being.
Mr. Cramer (for himself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Boozman, and Ms. Slotkin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Boozman (R-AR), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act to expand veteran access to structured outdoor recreation programs across the country.
Mr. Cramer (for himself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Boozman, and Ms. Slotkin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to award grants to certain State entities to expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs for veterans that enhance veteran wellness.
The introduced bill states it is "To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program under which the Secretary shall award grants to certain State entities to expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs for veterans that enhance veteran wellness."
U.S. Senator John Boozman joined Senators Kevin Cramer, Maggie Hassan and Elissa Slotkin in introducing the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, legislation aimed at helping former servicemembers access outdoor recreation opportunities to improve their well-being.
The June 5, 2026 Congressional Record Index for Veterans lists S. 4197 among the congressional bills in the Veterans section.
At the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on pending legislation, S. 4197, the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, was listed on the agenda.
GovInfo lists S. 4197 as the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, with John Boozman as a cosponsor. The current content details page lists the last action date as March 25, 2026, when the bill was introduced, read twice, and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
The introduced bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to state entities to expand access to structured outdoor recreation programs for veterans that enhance veteran wellness. The bill text says it was introduced by Cramer for himself, Hassan, Boozman, and Slotkin.
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee agenda for its April 29, 2026 pending-legislation hearing listed S. 4197, the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, among the bills under consideration.
Boozman's office said he joined Senators Kevin Cramer, Maggie Hassan, and Elissa Slotkin in introducing the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, and described the bill as creating a federal grant program for state veterans' agencies to develop or expand outdoor recreation opportunities for former servicemembers.
Assessments
Boozman materially advanced matching federal legislation during his Senate term by cosponsoring/introducing S. 4197, the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, which would create VA grants for state entities to expand structured outdoor recreation and wellness programs for veterans. The bill was referred to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and received pending-legislation hearing consideration, showing a serious legislative effort. However, the available official record shows no enactment or implemented grant program, so the promised policy outcome was not fully delivered.
Boozman co-introduced the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act and it received committee consideration, so he clearly advanced legislation toward expanding outdoor rehabilitation opportunities for veterans. But the evidence does not show enactment or implementation by June 5, 2026, so this is not full delivery.
Boozman materially advanced the promised policy in his current federal Senate term by joining as an original cosponsor of S. 4197, the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, which would require VA grants to expand structured outdoor recreation programs for veterans. However, the available status shows the bill was introduced, referred to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and had a hearing, not enacted or implemented. That is a serious legislative attempt but does not yet deliver the promised expansion in law or program outcomes.
Boozman co-introduced the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act and it was referred to committee, which shows a serious legislative effort to expand outdoor rehabilitation opportunities for veterans. The evidence does not show the bill enacted or the policy fully implemented, so the promise was only partially fulfilled.
Senator Boozman co-introduced the Veterans Outdoor Rehabilitation Act, clearly fulfilling the promise to advance legislation to expand outdoor rehabilitation opportunities for veterans. However, the available evidence shows the act was only introduced and referred to committee without indication of further legislative progress or passage. Thus, the legislative outcome (actual policy change or program expansion) was not achieved despite a serious attempt to fulfill the promise.