In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation that would make needed changes to the current disabled veteran free hunting license program.
 
Under Section 2706 of Title 34, disabled veterans are eligible for a free hunting license if they have a disability incurred in any war or armed conflict which consists of the loss of one or more limbs, or the loss of the use of one or more limbs, or who is 100% disabled as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  Reduced rates are available for those partially disabled.
 
Due to the specific language used, there is an unintended exclusion under current law. Unfortunately, a veteran with a service-connected disability, not occurring during a war or armed conflict, but during active-duty service, is not eligible for this program.  The current statutory language creates a distinction between disabilities incurred during "war or armed conflict" versus those incurred during other periods of military service.
 
This distinction has inadvertently excluded veterans whose disabilities are equally service connected but occurred during the following:
 

• Training exercises
• Non-combat military operations
• Peacetime service activities
• Other hazardous duty not classified as "armed conflict"

 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to ensure all service-connected disabled veterans receive equal treatment under the hunting license program, regardless of whether their disabilities were incurred during armed conflict or other military service.