Golden delivers $770,000 to bolster access to mental health treatment for veterans, law enforcement officers
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $770,000 in dedicated funding for the Dream Bigger Campaign of Operation ReBoot Outdoors as part of the 2024 appropriations government funding package.
The funding, which was signed into law Saturday, will be used to construct an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant outdoors healing center for veterans, law enforcement officers and others who struggle with trauma related to their service.
“Caring for those who’ve been hurt —physically and mentally — in the line of duty is a sacred obligation for those of us elected to lead,” saidGolden. “I’ve seen firsthand the valuable service Operation Reboot Outdoors provides to Mainers, and am eager to see this new facility come to life.”
“It is our Mission at Operation ReBoot Outdoors to create a long-lasting impact on the lives of all Veterans we serve,” said Nicole Waite, president of the organization. “Our goal is to create a fully accessible outdoor outfitter at our location in Byron, Maine, breaking down barriers that might otherwise prevent our nation’s heroes from experiencing the healing powers of the outdoors. We are now one step closer to making that goal a reality.”
Operation ReBoot Outdoors is a nonprofit established in 2019 and has taken a science-backed approach to improving mental health treatment for veterans and law enforcement. It teaches new outdoor skills and hobbies and has developed a community of service members who continue to support each other outside of the program. Operation ReBoot has serviced more than 800 veterans and law enforcement as well as conducted more than 500 hunting missions and fishing trips.
The funding will be used to build an ADA-compliant guided outdoor healing center. This center will provide lodging, fishing, hunting, wilderness safety and first aid courses to veterans and law enforcement officers in the community.
The request on behalf of Operation ReBoot Outdoors was one of 15 awards from Golden’s Community Project Funding (CPF) requests approved as part of the appropriations package. His $26 million in successful CPF requests was the most of any Democrat in Congress.
###