Assemblyman Pat Burke (D-Buffalo) announced that legislation to provide veterans and their families access to free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, including one Burke sponsored befitting Gold Star families, have passed out of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee.

“Gold Star families have experienced unimaginable loss and grief so that our country and freedoms remain protected,” Burke said. “It’s our duty to give them and the veterans who have put their lives on the line our utmost gratitude. Offering families who have lost their loved ones and veterans a chance to take advantage of the many recreational opportunities in our state for free is just one small way we can thank them.”

Burke’s bill would provide free sporting licenses to Gold Star parents (A.8132). The legislation would also make sporting licenses, privileges, tags and permits free of charge for veterans, as well as prioritize veteran access on at least two of New York’s free sport fishing days (A.8131), and eliminate residency requirements for hunting and fishing licenses for veterans and members of the Shinnecock and Poospatuck tribes and the Six Nations (A.3656)