BELO’S Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1682
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-14: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T19:58:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, titled the "Benefits that Endure for Lifetimes Of Service Act" or "BELO'S Act," aims to honor families of U.S. Armed Forces members who died while serving by granting them free, lifetime access to national parks and other federal recreational lands through special passes.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility for Lifetime Passes: The Act amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (a law that manages fees for using federal recreational areas) to include a new group eligible for free lifetime passes.
- Specific Criteria: Eligible individuals are survivors who qualify for:
- A "death gratuity" (a one-time payment to families of service members who die on active duty, as defined in U.S. military law under 10 U.S.C. § 1475).
- "Dependency and indemnity compensation" (ongoing payments to surviving dependents of veterans who died from service-related causes, under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 13).
- Implementation: These passes provide free entry and access to federal lands managed under the existing recreation fee program, such as national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The amendment adds a new subsection (D) to Section 805(b)(2) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. § 6804(b)(2)).
- Previously, lifetime passes were available to groups like seniors (age 62+), individuals with permanent disabilities, and U.S. military veterans with service-connected disabilities. This expands eligibility to include survivors of fallen service members, without altering other categories.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Provides financial and emotional benefits to affected families by waiving entrance fees (typically $10–$35 per vehicle or $80 annually for broader access), encouraging recreational use of public lands as a form of national recognition.
- On Government Agencies: The National Park Service and other federal land management agencies (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) will need to process and issue these passes, potentially increasing administrative workload but with minimal added costs since passes are already part of the program. No direct revenue loss is anticipated, as these are targeted exemptions.
- On International Relations: No notable impacts, as the Act focuses solely on domestic benefits for U.S. military families.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Surviving family members (e.g., spouses, children, or dependents) of Armed Forces members killed in service.
- Government Entities: Federal agencies overseeing recreational lands, including the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture, which will handle pass distribution.
- Broader Groups: Military and veterans' organizations, which may advocate for or support implementation to aid grieving families.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The change is straightforward and builds on an established fee waiver system, with no apparent conflicts with existing statutes. It requires no new funding or rulemaking beyond updating eligibility guidelines.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to manage federal lands and provide benefits to military families under Article I, Section 8 (powers over military and public lands); no First Amendment or equal protection issues arise, as it targets a specific, narrowly defined group.
- Political: Represents a non-controversial gesture of support for military families, likely to garner bipartisan approval, emphasizing national gratitude without broader policy shifts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. James, John [R-MI-10], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-14: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-05-13: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-05-13: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1965)
- 2025-05-13: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1965)
- 2025-05-13: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1682.
- 2025-05-13: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1965-1966)
- 2025-05-13: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Benefits that Endure for Lifetimes Of Service Act — issued 2025-05-13 — PDF (4 pages)
- Benefits that Endure for Lifetimes Of Service Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (2 pages)
- Benefits that Endure for Lifetimes Of Service Act — issued 2025-05-14 — PDF (2 pages)