Veteran's fishing bill passes

[9ft4wt]

The bill developed by Fly Fishers of Virginia, Game and Inland Fisheries and TU, House bill 319, to help wounded service personnel and disabled veterans go fishing, passed the Virginia Senate today 40-0. Now it just needs to be signed by Gov. Kaine to become a law that will go into effect July 1.

The bill will benefit Poject Healing Waters and other programs working to provide fishing therapy to those who have been injured in service to their country.

We had a casting class at the VA hospital tonight. I was working with a wheelchair bound man who said he almost did not come to the class because he was certain he would not be able to do it. He used to be an avid largemouth bass fisherman before he became disabled. He has not been fishing in five years.

He is not convinced that he could ever catch a fish fly fishing, but he told me as he left: "At least I have proved to myself that I can learn to cast."

"I can..." Two little words. That is what I told the members of the House agriculturte commitee this program is all about. It is not about fishing. It is about giving these men and women the confidence to say "I can...."

Thanks to everyone who contacted their delegate or senator.

9ft4wt

[littlecreekfisherman]

Awesome! That all I can say about that program.  Those men and wome keep our fishing waters free.

God Bless You !

[troutphisher]

Great way to give back to those who gave and sacraficed for our freedoms!  0--0

[FT]

Fantastic 0--0

[pelcrk]

Dan,
  That's great,glad it passed. Good job with the casting class.
Steve

[Fire-Fly]

Thats a great thing you are doing.  0--0

[phg]

I'm glad VA took that step.  Maybe NC will follow suite.  We do have classes near Ft. Bragg at the Lake Rimm facility that doesn't require a fishing license, but it would be nice to be able to expand the program to other areas of the state.  The little bit of lost license revenue isn't even worth considering....