[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 79 (Monday, May 24, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3720-H3721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   VETERANS DOG TRAINING THERAPY ACT

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3885) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry 
out a pilot program on dog training therapy.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3885

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Dog Training 
     Therapy Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG 
                   TRAINING THERAPY.

       (a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after 
     the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program for the 
     purpose of assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-
     deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder 
     symptoms through a therapeutic medium of training service 
     dogs for veterans with disabilities.
       (b) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program required 
     by subsection (a) shall be carried out at least three and not 
     more than five Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers 
     during the five-year period beginning on the date of the 
     commencement of the pilot program.
       (c) Locations of Pilot Program.--In selecting medical 
     centers for the pilot program required under subsection (a), 
     the Secretary shall ensure that each medical center selected 
     provides a training area for educating veterans with mental 
     health conditions in the art and science of assistance dog 
     training and handling. Such training area shall--
       (1) include a dedicated space that is suitable for grooming 
     and training dogs indoors;
       (2) be wheelchair accessible;
       (3) include classroom or lecture space;
       (4) include office space for staff;
       (5) include a suitable space for storing training 
     equipment;
       (6) provide for periodic use of other training areas for 
     training the dogs with wheelchairs and conducting other 
     exercises;
       (7) include outdoor exercise and toileting space for dogs; 
     and
       (8) provide transportation for weekly field trips to train 
     dogs in other environments.
       (d) Design of Pilot Program.--In carrying out the pilot 
     program under this section, the Secretary shall--
       (1) administer the program through the Recreation Therapy 
     Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs under the 
     direction of a certified recreational therapist with 
     sufficient administrative experience to oversee all pilot 
     program sites;
       (2) establish, for purposes of overseeing the training of 
     dogs at medical centers selected for the pilot program, a 
     director of service dog training with a background working in 
     social services, experience in teaching others to train 
     service dogs in a vocational setting, and at least one year 
     of experience working with veterans or active duty service 
     members with post-traumatic stress disorder in a clinical 
     setting;
       (3) ensure that each pilot program site has certified dog 
     trainers;
       (4) ensure that each assistance dog used in the program is 
     purpose-bred for assistance dog work and has adequate 
     temperament and health clearances;
       (5) ensure that each assistance dog participating in the 
     pilot program is taught 90 commands pertaining to assistance 
     dog skills;
       (6) ensure that each assistance dog live at the pilot 
     program site or a volunteer foster home in the vicinity of 
     such site while receiving training;
       (7) ensure that the pilot program involves both lecture of 
     assistance dog training methodologies and practical hands-on 
     training and grooming of assistance dogs; and
       (8) ensure that the pilot program is designed to--
       (A) maximize the therapeutic benefits to veteran 
     participating in the program; and
       (B) provide well-trained assistance dogs to veterans with 
     disabilities.
       (e) Veteran Eligibility.--A veteran with post-traumatic 
     stress disorder or other post-deployment mental health 
     condition may volunteer to participate in the pilot program 
     under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that there 
     are adequate program resources available for such veteran at 
     the pilot program site.
       (f) Hiring Preference.--In hiring service dog training 
     instructors under the pilot program under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall give a preference to veterans who have 
     successfully graduated from post-traumatic stress disorder or 
     other residential treatment programs and who have received 
     adequate certification in assistance dog training.
       (g) Collection of Data.--The Secretary shall collect data 
     on the pilot program required under subsection (a) to 
     determine how effective the program is for the veterans 
     participating in the program. Such data shall include data to 
     determine how effectively the program assists veterans in--
       (1) reducing stigma associated with post-traumatic stress 
     disorder or other post-deployment mental health condition;
       (2) improving emotional regulation;
       (3) improving patience;
       (4) instilling or re-establishing a sense of purpose;
       (5) providing an opportunity to help fellow veterans;
       (6) reintegrating into the community;
       (7) exposing the dog to new environments and in doing so, 
     helping the veteran reduce social isolation and withdrawal 
     and increase their sense of safety;
       (8) building relationship skills;
       (9) relaxing the hyper-vigilant survival state;
       (10) improving sleep patterns; and
       (11) enabling veterans to decrease the use of pain 
     medication.
       (h) Reports to Congress.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of the commencement of the pilot program under 
     subsection (a), and each year thereafter for the duration of 
     the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the pilot program. Each such report shall include--
       (1) the number of veterans participating in the pilot 
     program;

[[Page H3721]]

       (2) a description of the services carried out by the 
     Secretary under the pilot program;
       (3) the effects that participating in the pilot program has 
     on the following--
       (A) symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and post-
     deployment adjustment difficulties, including depression, 
     maintenance of sobriety, suicidal ideations, and 
     homelessness;
       (B) potentially relevant physiological markers that 
     possibly relate to the interactions with the service dogs;
       (C) family dynamics;
       (D) insomnia and pain management; and
       (E) overall well being; and
       (4) the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to 
     the extension or expansion of the pilot program.
       (i) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
     ``service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who 
     provides the direct training of veterans with post-traumatic 
     stress disorder and other post-deployment issues in the art 
     and science of assistance dog training and handling.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3885.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3885, the Veterans Dog 
Training Therapy Act.
  I want to thank the ranking member of the Health Subcommittee, 
Congressman Brown from South Carolina, for bringing us this 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, we all recognize how damaging the invisible wounds of 
war can be. The need for effective treatments for posttraumatic stress 
disorder and for other conditions, such as depression and substance 
abuse, is apparent, I think, to all Americans. This act recognizes and 
meets this need by exploring an innovative and promising new form of 
treatment, using the training of service dogs as a therapeutic medium.
  The bill would require the VA to establish a pilot program where 
veterans with PTSD, or with other postdeployment mental health 
conditions, would help train service dogs. Through this pilot program, 
we can test the potential therapeutic benefits to participating 
veterans. Similar programs are already in existence within the Palo 
Alto VA Health Care System and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
  There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of participants who have 
reported improved emotional regulation, regular sleep patterns, 
feelings of personal safety, and reduced levels of anxiety and social 
isolation. Moreover, these participants tout a strong sense of purpose 
that they derive from their participation in the program.
  Madam Speaker, this bill will allow us to further study this 
innovative new treatment modality beyond the existing anecdotal 
evidence, and it will help us assess its place in the VA health care 
system.
  I urge the support of all of my colleagues, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3885, to direct the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog 
training therapy.
  This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
establish a 5-year pilot program in at least three medical centers for 
assessing the effectiveness of treating postdeployment mental illness, 
such as PTSD, through assistance dog training.
  The pilot would allow veterans battling these invisible wounds to 
assist certified dog trainers in training assistance animals. The 
veterans will work with their dogs in their care, the trainers who are 
guiding the curriculum and with other wounded warriors to train dogs to 
become valuable therapy animals, with the animals having learned some 
90 different commands. At the same time, the veterans learn valuable 
lessons about themselves and their world, which they need to learn so 
they can recover and reintegrate into society.
  Once trained, the therapy dogs will be provided to other disabled 
veterans to aid them in daily activities, like opening doors, 
retrieving fallen items, et cetera. As an added benefit, the veteran 
dog trainers are provided vocational experience should they choose to 
pursue service dog training as a career path.
  Just as Chairman Filner said, there are similar programs that are 
very successful at Palo Alto and at Walter Reed, and trying to 
replicate this, I think, is extremely important. These veterans who are 
participating are seeing great improvements, not only in their sleep 
but in their social interaction, in their emotional regulation, 
patience, trust, sense of purpose, and personal meaning. All of these 
things are extremely important for veterans to be able to reintegrate 
into society. Some of them have even been able to reduce their 
medications as a result of lowering their anxiety levels, which, I 
think, is extremely important. As we continue to hear these stories of 
healing and hope, I think this bill goes a long way toward giving the 
necessary assurances to these veterans.
  Madam Speaker, I know there are few things we take as seriously as 
our commitment to serving those who have served us in combat, 
especially when they return home with physical and mental scars. So, if 
there is anything that we can do to be helpful to them, we would like 
to do that. You know, sometimes the obvious can be right in front of 
us. We all know that cherished feeling of having a pet--we learned it 
as children--and if there is anything that we can do to touch the heart 
of a veteran which can help him in the healing process, it is a good 
thing.
  So I want to thank my colleague, former Chairman and now Ranking 
Member Brown, for bringing this bill. This pilot will provide much-
needed scientific grounding into these dynamics and into the efficacy 
of a therapeutic model that will help these veterans. I think this is a 
wonderful bill.
  I want to thank Chairman Filner and subcommittee Chairman Mike 
Michaud for their leadership and for their assistance in moving this 
bill forward.
  Once again, I know Henry Brown is going to be retiring, and we are 
going to miss his leadership on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. It is 
only fitting that Henry would bring a bill such as this. His own 
daughter was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, so he knows 
the need of having not only compassion for people but also compassion 
for animals. He knows how it can touch people and promote their 
healing. Henry's deep commitment to helping others in need and, in 
particular, our veterans is unparalleled, so I want to thank Henry 
Brown for bringing this bill to the floor for consideration today.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to support the bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I 
would urge unanimous support for the bill, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3885.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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