---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8505"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8505"
heading: "Career and volunteer opportunities for veterans"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8505"
units:
  - "Chapter 103 — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences"
  - "Subchapter II — Access America"
  - "Part B — Military and Veterans in Parks"
---

# §8505. Career and volunteer opportunities for veterans

- (a) **Veteran hiring—** The [Secretaries](/usc/16/8401.md?p=6) are strongly encouraged to hire veterans in all positions related to the management of [Federal recreational lands and waters](/usc/16/8401.md?p=2).
- (b) **Pilot program—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7), in consultation with the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training and the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a pilot program under which veterans are employed by the Federal Government in positions that relate to the conservation and resource management activities of the Department of the Interior.
  - (2) **Positions—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) shall—
    - (A) identify vacant positions in the Department of the Interior that are appropriate to fill using the pilot program; and
    - (B) to the extent practicable, fill such positions using the pilot program.
  - (3) **Application of civil service laws—** A veteran employed under the pilot program shall be treated as an employee as defined by [section 2105 of title 5](/usc/5/2105.md).
  - (4) **Briefings and report—**
    - (A) **Initial briefing—** Not later than 60 days after January 4, 2025, the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) and the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall jointly provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the pilot program under this subsection, which shall include—
      - (i) a description of how the pilot program will be carried out in a manner to reduce the unemployment of veterans; and
      - (ii) any recommendations for legislative actions to improve the pilot program.
    - (B) **Implementation briefing—** Not later than 1 year after the date on which the pilot program under [subsection (a)](#a)[^1] commences, the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) and the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall jointly provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the implementation of the pilot program.
    - (C) **Final report—** Not later than 30 days after the date on which the pilot program under [subsection (a)](#a)[^1] terminates under [paragraph (5)](#b-5), the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) and the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the pilot program that includes the following:
      - (i) The number of veterans who applied to participate in the pilot program.
      - (ii) The number of such veterans employed under the pilot program.
      - (iii) The number of veterans identified in [clause (ii)](#b-4-C-ii) who transitioned to full-time positions with the Federal Government after participating in the pilot program.
      - (iv) Any other information the [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) and the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training determine appropriate with respect to measuring the effectiveness of the pilot program.
  - (5) **Duration—** The authority to carry out the pilot program under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the date on which the pilot program commences.
- (c) **Appropriate congressional committees defined—** In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
  - (1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
  - (2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
- (d) **Outdoor recreation program attendance—** Each [Secretary](/usc/16/8401.md?p=7) of a military department is encouraged to allow members of the Armed Forces on active duty status to participate in programs related to environmental stewardship or guided outdoor recreation.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should refer to “this subsection”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 118–234, title II, § 226, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2889.)