II 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1495 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 22, 2009 Mr. Franken (for himself, Mr. Isakson, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Graham, Mr. Begich, and Mr. Brown) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009.

2.

Pilot program on use of service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities

(a)

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)The United States owes a profound debt to those who have served the United States honorably in the Armed Forces. (2)Disabled veterans suffer from a range of physical and mental injuries and disabilities. (3)In 2008, the Army reported the highest level of suicides among its soldiers since it began tracking the rate 28 years before 2009. (4)A scientific study documented in the 2008 Rand Report entitled Invisible Wounds of War estimated that 300,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom currently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. (5)Veterans have benefitted in multiple ways from the provision of service dogs. (6)The Department of Veterans Affairs has been successfully placing guide dogs with the blind since 1961. (7)Thousands of dogs around the country await adoption. (b)

Program required

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence a three-year pilot program to assess the benefits, feasibility, and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder. (c)

Partnerships

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program by partnering with nonprofit organizations that— (A)have experience providing service dogs to individuals with injuries or disabilities; (B)do not charge fees for the dogs, services, or lodging that they provide; and (C)are accredited by a generally accepted industry-standard accrediting institution. (2)

Reimbursement of costs

The Secretary shall reimburse partners for costs relating to the pilot program as follows: (A)For the first 50 dogs provided under the pilot program, all costs relating to the provision of such dogs. (B)For dogs provided under the pilot program after the first 50 dogs provided, all costs relating to the provision of every other dog. (d)

Participation

(1)

In general

As part of the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide a service dog to a number of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities that is greater than or equal to the greater of— (A)200; and (B)the minimum number of such veterans required to produce scientifically valid results with respect to assessing the benefits and costs of the use of such dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of such veterans. (2)

Composition

The Secretary shall ensure that— (A)half of the participants in the pilot program are veterans who suffer primarily from a mental health injury or disability; and (B)half of the participants in the pilot program are veterans who suffer primarily from a physical injury or disability. (e)

Study

In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall conduct a scientifically valid research study of the costs and benefits associated with the use of service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities. The matters studied shall include the following: (1)The therapeutic benefits to such veterans, including the quality of life benefits reported by the veterans partaking in the pilot program. (2)The economic benefits of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of such veterans, including— (A)savings on health care costs, including savings relating to reductions in hospitalization and reductions in the use of prescription drugs; and (B)productivity and employment gains for the veterans. (3)The effectiveness of using service dogs to prevent suicide. (f)

Reports

(1)

Annual report of the Secretary

After each year of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot program. (2)

Final report by the National Academy of Sciences

Not later than 180 days after the date of the completion of the pilot program, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the pilot program.