From the December 2001 Idaho Observer:

“Hope” passes spring eternal from Congress

The “Healing Opportunities in Parks and Environment Pass Act” was introduced in the House Oct. 2. The rules were suspended Nov. 13 by a voice vote and the bill was passed. The bill is now before the Senate. As you form an opinion of this special benefit for special people, keep in mind that access to public lands used to be free of charge to the public that owned them. It has only been since the federal government has claimed “ownership” of public lands that the public has been forced to pay fees in exchange for the privilege of enjoying them.

107th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2976

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 14, 2001

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

AN ACT

To provide for the issuance of a special entrance pass for free admission to any federally owned area which is operated and maintained by a Federal agency and used for outdoor recreation purposes to the survivors, victims' immediate families, and police, fire, rescue, recovery, and medical personnel directly affected by the September 11, 2001, terrorist hijackings and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the 'Healing Opportunities in Parks and the Environment Pass Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds the following:

(1) The trauma associated with the terrorist hijackings and attacks of September 11, 2001, has been significant for the survivors, victims' immediate families, and police, fire, rescue, recovery, and medical personnel directly involved in this national tragedy.

(2) America's system of national parks, forests, and public lands provides significant opportunities to renew, refresh, and strengthen the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of those who use them.

(b) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this Act to help those directly impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, by enhancing opportunities for the use of America's national parks, forests, and public lands as a means of aiding in their recovery from the trauma associated with these tragic events.

SEC. 3. HOPE PASS.

(a) ISSUANCE- The Secretary of the Interior shall make available at no cost to qualified individuals a special entrance pass which shall be known as the 'Hope Pass' and shall provide for free admission into any federally owned area which is operated and maintained by a Federal agency and used for outdoor recreation purposes.

(b) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS- A qualified individual shall be --

(1) an individual who was present at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, or the site of the aircraft crash at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at the time, or in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001;

(2) an individual who had an immediate family member killed as a direct result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001; or

(3) any police, fire, rescue, recovery, or medical personnel who directly responded to the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001.

(c) CONDITIONS- Each Hope Pass shall --

(1) be issued upon acceptance by the Secretary of the Interior of an application from a qualified applicant which shall include a signed statement attesting to the applicant's eligibility for the pass;

(2) be valid for the life of the qualified pass holder; and

(3) provide free admission to qualified pass holders and their immediate family when accompanied by the qualified pass holder.

(d) NONELIGIBILITY- No individual identified by the Attorney General of the United States to have been a participant or conspirator in the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, or their family shall be eligible to receive a Hope Pass.

Passed the House of Representatives November 13, 2001.