[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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