I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1154 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 17, 2011 Mr. Carter (for himself, Mrs. Bachmann, Mr. Bachus, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Carnahan, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Culberson, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Flores, Mr. Huizenga of Michigan, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. King of Iowa, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Kissell, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. McCaul, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Mica, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Mr. Neal, Mr. Pence, Mr. Platts, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mrs. Schmidt, Mr. Towns, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Chabot, and Mr. Stivers) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to prevent the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from prohibiting the use of service dogs on Department of Veterans Affairs property.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Equal Treatment for Service Dogs Act or the VETS Dogs Act.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)The usage of medical service dogs among veterans is increasing. (2)The Department of Veterans Affairs currently allows seeing-eye dogs in Department facilities. (3)The Department does not place any limitations on the access of seeing-eye dogs to Department facilities. (4)The Americans With Disabilities Act requires that a public entity or place of public accommodation modify its polices, practices, and procedures to allow an individual with a disability to use a service animal.

3.

Use of service dogs on property of the Department of Veterans Affairs

Section 901 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f)The Secretary may not prohibit the use of service dogs in any facility or on any property of the Department or in any facility or on any property that receives funding from the Secretary. .