WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Richard Burr today applauded the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for approving legislation that would allow veterans to purchase a special, discount pass to see America's national parks.  The Veterans Eagle Parks Pass Act (S.617) would establish a new $10 "Eagle Pass" that would allow former servicemembers to visit all national parks for a full year.  The bill was amended by the committee to also allow active duty, reserve and guard members to be eligible for the pass. Burr is a co-sponsor of the legislation approved by the committee.

"National parks are home to many of America's greatest treasures," Burr said.  "A discount pass will make parks more accessible for our veterans and military members and would help them enjoy the land they helped to protect.  I applaud the committee for passing this legislation and will work with my Senate colleagues to move this bill out of the Senate."

Americans logged over 275 million visits to national parks in 2007, making the park system one our nation's most popular forms of recreation.  Over 19 million people visited North Carolina's national parks, trails, battlefields, and historic sites in 2007.  The park system in North Carolina comprises over 394,000 acres, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Burr is the Ranking Member of the National Parks Subcommittee and the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.