Assemblyman Jones: Outdoor Recreation Helps Veterans Find Peace
Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) announced that legislation he supported to create more outdoor-based recreation opportunities for veterans passed the Assembly’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (A.8094).
“The North Country is home to countless veterans who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms,” Jones said. “We owe it to them to do all that we can to help them transition back to civilian life. This legislation introduces more resources for these brave men and women as they heal from their trauma so they can find peace.”
The Outdoor Rx Act would facilitate collaboration between state agencies, veterans’ organizations and nonprofits to coordinate the use of lands to benefit veterans. Outdoor and nature-based activities can have an invaluable therapeutic effect on those struggling with service-related traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) or substance abuse disorder.
Jones has consistently been a strong advocate for veterans in the North Country and serves as a member of the Assembly’s Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. This year, he helped secure $100,000 in the 2019-20 state budget for the North Country Veterans Association (NCVA) to help local heroes reintegrate into civilian life. Jones also supported legislation to help more veterans access the benefits they are entitled to (Ch. 322 of 2018) and is working to secure financial support for the Battlefield Memorial Gateway project, which would provide access to historic Crab Island, the final resting ground of soldiers who died during the Battle of Plattsburgh in the War of 1812.[1]