[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HARKIN (for himself and Mr. Isakson):
  S. 769. A bill 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; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, along with Senator Isakson, today I am 
introducing a bill to allow veterans with disabilities who utilize 
service dogs the same access to VA health care and facilities as those 
using guide dogs. Right now, a vet who has a seeing-eye dog can go into 
any VA hospital to get services, but it is at the discretion of each 
facility whether or not to allow a vet to bring a service dog, which 
they use for mobility, assistance with living with hearing loss, 
comfort for those experiencing PTSD, and to alert others if they have a 
seizure.
  This bill will provide for full access to all veterans at every VA 
facility, without exception. There should not be a variation in policy 
from one VA facility to another. It is a small but laudable goal to 
promote the access of persons with disabilities at VA facilities and 
guarantee all veterans, regardless of their disability, receive the 
care and services they need and are entitled to through their selfless 
service to our Nation.
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