March 19, 2018 - Washington, D.C., - On Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Ryan Zinke blamed veterans, disabled people, “the elderly,” and fourth graders for funding issues in our national parks, telling the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: "When you give discounted or free passes to elderly, fourth graders, veterans, disabled, and you do it by the carload, there's not a whole lot of people who actually pay at our front door. So, we're looking at ways to make sure we have more revenue in the front door of our parks themselves."

In response, Rob Vessels, Army veteran and Senior Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors program issued the following statement:

“I’m a veteran who helps other veterans and their families get outdoors because our public lands can ease the transition from active duty to active citizenship, and are spaces to heal emotionally and physically. It’s insulting to have the Secretary of the Interior blame me and other veterans for the fact that he won’t fund our national parks properly. I served my country to help protect institutions like our national parks, and have dedicated my life to expanding access to the outdoors for all people. Secretary Zinke should learn to speak more respectfully about veterans before he uses us as a tool for his political agenda to shut working families out of our national parks.”