[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 121 (Friday, August 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1502-E1503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORT H.R. 1154, THE VETERANS EQUAL TREATMENT FOR SERVICE DOGS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHELE BACHMANN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 5, 2011

  Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, in 1985, Army Ranger Light Kevin Stone's 
life changed when the Army vehicle he was in tumbled over a mountain 
edge and down 144 feet. Stone broke his neck and suffered severe brain 
trauma to the point of losing every memory prior to the six months 
before the accident.
  A true miracle, Stone now lives an independent life thanks to his 
service dog, Mambo. But sadly, rules at some Vets Hospitals welcome 
seeing eye dogs while preventing service dogs like Mambo from coming 
in.
  The working best friends of our wounded vets must be allowed with 
them at all times in order to do their jobs--including during VA 
visits. That's why I'm proud to cosponsor Judge Carter's effort, H.R. 
1154, legislation which will close the working-dog loophole and welcome 
all dogs into VA care centers.
  The VA considers service dogs like Mambo needed prostheses, like legs 
or arms. And Stone compares Mambo to a crucial tool--a wheelchair.
  Current policy allows each VA center to set dog guidelines. That 
means, Stone is given care at some facilities if Mambo is with him.
  We can fix this problem by passing the Veterans for Equal Treatment 
of Service Dogs Act, or the VETS Dogs Act.
  This will ensure working service dogs can accompany their owner to 
every single VA facility, just like seeing eye dogs are allowed to do. 
This will be a permanent solution for our wounded veterans.
  Kevin Stone credits his service dogs--Mambo, and Mambo's predecessor, 
Jonah--with allowing him to successfully represent his country around 
the world. He's no longer in camouflage, but another type of uniform: 
Kevin Stone used his service dog to compete on the U.S. Paralympic 
team. He won bronze in Athens and he's set American records in Beijing. 
With Mambo at his side, Stone continues to represent the U.S. Olympic 
Committee on the U.S. Paralympic Committee's Military Program as a 
coach and mentor.
  Not all wounded vets compete with their service dogs, but they do 
everyday things like other Americans: when they get on the bus, get 
their groceries, get their mail and go to the doctor's office, their 
service dogs are there.
  Colleagues, you may not know a veteran personally injured in Iraq or 
Afghanistan, but go to a VA in your district, and you'll meet hundreds 
of our nation's heroes who gave so much, but had so much taken away.
  If service dogs allow our wounded vets to lead happy and independent 
lives, then we have a duty to ensure government regulations help, not 
hinder, the relationship between dog and owner.
  Join us as we work to better the lives of our vets and as our 
veterans are empowered to overcome challenges. Because retired Army 
Ranger Light Fighter Kevin Stone isn't playing a game when he tells 
Mambo to ``fetch''.

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