[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H777-H780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PUPPIES ASSISTING WOUNDED SERVICEMEMBERS FOR VETERANS THERAPY ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4305) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry 
out a pilot program on dog training therapy, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4305

       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 ``Puppies Assisting Wounded 
     Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act'' or the ``PAWS for 
     Veterans Therapy Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) According to the analyses of veteran suicide published 
     by the Department of Veterans Affairs in August 2016 and 
     titled ``Suicide Among Veterans and Other Americans'', and in 
     June 2018, titled ``VA National Suicide Date Report''--
       (A) an average of 20 veterans died by suicide each day in 
     2014;
       (B) mental health disorders, including major depression and 
     other mood disorders, have been associated with increased 
     risk for suicide;
       (C) since 2001, the proportion of users of the Veterans 
     Health Administration with mental health conditions or 
     substance use disorders has increased from approximately 27 
     percent in 2001 to more than 40 percent in 2014; and
       (D) overall, suicide rates are highest among patients with 
     mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses who are in 
     treatment and lower among those who received a mental health 
     diagnosis but were not at risk enough to require enhanced 
     care from a mental health provider.
       (2) The Department of Veterans Affairs must be more 
     effective in its approach to reducing the burden of veteran 
     suicide connected to mental health disorders, including post-
     traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as 
     ``PTSD''), and new, rigorous scientific research provides 
     persuasive weight to the growing anecdotal evidence that 
     service dogs ameliorate the symptoms associated with PTSD, 
     and in particular, help prevent veteran suicide.
       (3) Several organizations have proven track records of 
     training service dogs for veterans with severe PTSD and 
     dramatically improving those veterans' quality of life, 
     ability to re-enter society, and, most importantly, their 
     chances of survival.

     SEC. 3. 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, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall carry out a pilot program under which the 
     Secretary shall make grants to one or more appropriate non-
     government entities for the purpose of assessing the 
     effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and 
     post-traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to 
     as ``PTSD'') 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 during the five-year 
     period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot 
     program.
       (c) Conditions on Receipt of Grants.--As a condition of 
     receiving a grant under this section, a non-government entity 
     shall--
       (1) submit to the Secretary certification that the entity 
     is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that--
       (A) provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD; and
       (B) is accredited by, or adheres to standards comparable to 
     those of, an accrediting organization with demonstrated 
     experience, national scope, and recognized leadership and 
     expertise in the training of service dogs and education in 
     the use of service dogs;
       (2) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount;
       (3) agree to reaccept or replace the service dog the 
     organization provided to the veteran, if necessary, as 
     determined by the organization and the veteran;
       (4) provide a wellness certification from a licensed 
     veterinarian for any dog participating in the program;
       (5) employ at least one person with clinical experience 
     related to mental health;
       (6) ensure that veterans participating in the pilot program 
     receive training from certified service dog training 
     instructors for a period of time determined appropriate by 
     the organization and the Secretary, including service skills 
     to address or alleviate symptoms unique to veterans' needs;
       (7) agree to provide both lectures on service dog training 
     methodologies and practical hands-on training and grooming of 
     service dogs;
       (8) agree that in hiring service dog training instructors 
     to carry out training under the pilot program, the non-
     government entity will give a preference to veterans who have 
     successfully graduated from PTSD or other residential 
     treatment program and who have received adequate 
     certification in service dog training;
       (9) agree not to use shock collars or prong collars as 
     training tools and to use positive reinforcement training;
       (10) agree that upon the conclusion of training provided 
     using the grant funds--
       (A) the veteran who received the training will keep the dog 
     unless the veteran and the veteran's health provider decide 
     it is not in the best interest of the veteran;
       (B) if the veteran does not opt to own the dog, the entity 
     will be responsible for caring for and appropriately placing 
     the dog;
       (C) the Department of Veterans Affairs will have no 
     additional responsibility to provide for any benefits under 
     this section; and
       (D) the Department of Veterans Affairs will have no 
     liability with respect to the dog;
       (11) provide follow-up support service for the life of the 
     dog, including a contact plan between the veteran and the 
     entity to allow the veteran to reach out for and receive 
     adequate help with the service dog and the organization to 
     communicate with the veteran to ensure the service dog is 
     being properly cared for; and
       (12) submit to the Secretary an application containing such 
     information, certification, and assurances as the Secretary 
     may require.
       (d) Veteran Eligibility.--
       (1) In general.--For the purposes of this section, an 
     eligible veteran is a veteran who--
       (A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system in the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title 
     38, United States Code;
       (B) has been recommended for the pilot program under this 
     section by a qualified health care provider or clinical team 
     based on the medical judgment that the veteran may 
     potentially benefit from participating; and
       (C) agrees to successfully complete training provided by an 
     eligible organization that receives a grant under this 
     section.
       (2) Relationship to participation in other program.--
     Veterans may participate in the pilot program in conjunction 
     with the compensated work therapy program of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs.
       (3) Continuing eligibility requirement.--To remain eligible 
     to participate in the program, a veteran shall see the health 
     care provider or clinical team of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs treating the veteran for PTSD at least once every six 
     months to determine, based on a clinical evaluation of 
     efficacy, whether the veteran continues to benefit from the 
     program.
       (e) Collection of Data.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Secretary shall--
       (1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure, 
     with respect to veterans participation in the program, the 
     improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic 
     compliance of such veterans and changes with respect to the 
     dependence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic 
     medication of such veterans;
       (2) establish processes to document and track the progress 
     of such veterans under the program in terms of the benefits 
     and improvements noted as a result of the program; and
       (3) in addition, the Secretary shall continue to collect 
     these data over the course of five years for each veteran who 
     has continued with the dog he or she has personally trained.
       (f) GAO Briefing and Study.--
       (1) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a), 
     the Comptroller General of the United States shall provide to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the methodology 
     established for the program.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on 
     which the program terminates, the Comptroller General shall 
     submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a report 
     on the program. Such report shall include an evaluation of 
     the approach and methodology used for the program with 
     respect to--
       (A) helping veterans with severe PTSD return to civilian 
     life;
       (B) relevant metrics, including reduction in metrics such 
     as reduction in scores under the PTSD check-list (PCL-5), 
     improvement in psychosocial function, and therapeutic 
     compliance; and
       (C) reducing the dependence of participants on prescription 
     narcotics and psychotropic medication.
       (g) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term 
     ``service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who 
     provides the direct training of veterans with PTSD and other 
     post-deployment issues in the art and science of service dog 
     training and handling.


[[Page H778]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P. 
Roe) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 4305, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Puppies Assisting Wounded 
Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act, otherwise known as the PAWS 
Act, introduced by Representative Stivers of Ohio.
  This bill has more than 300 cosponsors, which put it on the Consensus 
Calendar. It reflects this Chamber's desire to pass legislation 
addressing veterans' mental health, which I strongly support.
  The bill calls for the VA to establish a 5-year pilot program to make 
grants available to appropriate nongovernmental entities ``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.''
  Mr. Speaker, I think everyone in this room today can agree that 
dogs--and animals, more broadly speaking--make great companions. In 
fact, in 2018, Americans spent $72 billion on their pets. Years of 
research have illustrated numerous positive health outcomes, such as 
lowering blood pressure.
  I intend to vote ``yes'' on this bill; however, I do have concerns 
about this bill becoming law before VA's study examining the possible 
therapeutic benefits of veterans with PTSD receiving either a service 
dog or an emotional support dog is complete.
  Service dogs and emotional support dogs are very different, and it is 
important that we understand the efficacy of providing veterans with 
PTSD with either type of dog. Relying on the dog for companionship is 
far different than using dogs as a form of behavioral health treatment.
  Mr. Speaker, like any other treatment, therapy, or pharmaceutical 
provided to veterans, research must be performed so informed policy and 
treatment decisions can be made. A draft monograph outlining VA's 
findings is complete and currently undergoing peer review by the 
National Academy of Sciences. The VA anticipates having a final report 
to Congress not later than the end of July 2020.
  Before this bill was placed on the Consensus Calendar, I had hoped to 
wait to have the findings of this study so that we could properly 
review and mark up this legislation, ensuring veterans receive 
effective, evidence-based treatments for PTSD.
  Mr. Speaker, we are passing this legislation without scientific 
evidence supporting the effectiveness of service dogs for the treatment 
of PTSD. However, I support this bill because its placement on the 
Consensus Calendar reflects the will of the Members of this Chamber, 
and years of research have shown positive health outcomes related to 
owning dogs for companionship.
  When we receive the study, I intend to work with our Senate 
colleagues to improve and strengthen this legislation so that we can 
ensure veterans diagnosed with PTSD receive effective treatments.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4305, as amended, the 
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act, or 
the PAWS Act.
  This bill is sponsored by Congressman Steve Stivers from Ohio. Steve 
is a brigadier general in the Army National Guard, where he wore our 
Nation's uniform for over three decades of service in Ohio and overseas 
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Needless to say, he knows firsthand the toll that military service 
can take and the need to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
is equipped to provide our veterans with all the services and supports 
that they need to not only recover from their wounds of war, but to 
lead healthy, full, and meaningful lives as civilians. The PAWS Act 
would provide VA with an additional tool to accomplish that goal by 
providing grants to organizations to assist veterans struggling with 
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health challenges 
through service dog training.
  Veterans participating in the program would be paired with a 
prospective service dog and work with a qualified service dog training 
instructor to train the dog as a certified service animal. At the 
conclusion of the training, if the veteran and the veteran's provider 
agree that it is in the best interests of the veteran, the veteran will 
be able to keep their dog, or it would be paired with another veteran 
in need.
  The grant program that the PAWS Act would create is based on service 
dog training therapy programs at Walter Reed National Medical Center in 
Maryland and the Palo Alto VA Medical Center in California. Both of 
those programs are well established and have shown remarkably positive 
anecdotal outcomes for servicemembers and veterans who have gone 
through them.
  It won't come as a surprise to any dog owner--me, included--that the 
companionship and unconditional love offered by man's best friend has a 
powerful real-world healing effect. The old saying is, in Washington, 
``if you want a friend, get a dog.'' I am glad that this program will 
expand that effort as well as the unique assistance that trained 
service dogs provide to more of our Nation's heroes.
  This bill is cosponsored by 321 of our House colleagues, a tremendous 
bipartisan show of support that is reflective of the desire of this 
body to care for those who have borne the battles and are struggling 
with invisible injuries as a result.
  I am grateful to General   Steve Stivers for his hard work getting 
this bill to the House floor today, and I am happy to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill), my good friend.
  Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano for yielding.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 4305, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy 
Act. This important bipartisan legislation will create a pilot program 
within the Department of Veterans Affairs to give veterans access to 
treatment derived from working with service dogs.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the 
gentleman from Ohio, Representative Stivers, for his tireless 
leadership on this legislation. I deeply appreciate his dedication to 
our Nation's veterans.

  Mr. Speaker, thousands of veterans, between 11 and 20 percent, 
experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Too many of the men and 
women who serve our country return home with unseen trauma that can 
make it hard to carry out daily activities, like going to work or going 
to school. We owe it to our veterans to make sure that they have the 
resources they need to recover.
  In November, I had the opportunity to spend some time with a Vietnam 
veteran named Walter Parker and his service dog, Jackson. Walter shared 
how his partnership with Jackson has dramatically improved his life. 
Jackson helps Walter participate in activities that we all take for 
granted, like going to the movies or the grocery store. Their bond has 
been instrumental in Walter's continuing recovery.
  His story is not unique. Researchers, doctors, and veterans, 
themselves, all report the same thing: Service dogs soothe the 
invisible wounds of war.
  Under the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, the VA will partner with 
nonprofit organizations working with veterans and service dogs to 
create work-therapy programs that help veterans learn the art and 
science of training dogs. After completing the program, the veterans 
may adopt their dogs to provide continued therapy.
  Mission-based therapy has been proven to be a successful means of 
treating PTSD, and this legislation will enable

[[Page H779]]

more veterans to access the care that service dogs can provide.
  Mr. Speaker, Walter and Jackson and countless other vets and their 
service dogs are proof that this therapy works. We owe it to our 
veterans to explore creative ways to help them after they have given so 
much to our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important and 
innovative legislation and give veterans the treatment they need and 
deserve.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I do want to give a 
shout-out to former Congressman Ron DeSantis, now Governor Ron DeSantis 
of Florida, who championed this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Stivers), my good friend.
  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
David P. Roe) for yielding time.
  This bill is, indeed, a blending of a bill that Governor DeSantis had 
in the last Congress and a bill we had in the last Congress, and we now 
have 321 cosponsors on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, as you know, our servicemembers returning from war 
sometimes have invisible wounds. I served as a battalion commander in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and soldiers under my command came back with 
post-traumatic stress and, indeed, some even with traumatic brain 
injury.
  All too often, we see the links between military service and mental 
health conditions, including post-traumatic stress, as well as 
traumatic brain injury and even suicide.
  Mr. Speaker, we lose 20 veterans a day to suicide. Congress has to 
work to address that situation. Mental health and the suicide epidemic 
that are facing veterans can't be solved with a single solution, but it 
is important we look at this comprehensively and come up with as many 
building blocks as we can to address this crisis. That is why I 
introduced the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, which is based on 
clinical evidence from Kaiser Permanente and Purdue University.
  The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act would establish a pilot program in 
the Department of Veterans Affairs authorizing the Secretary to give 
grants to local service dog training organizations so that they can 
work with veterans, and veterans can receive training to train service 
dogs and also end up with a service dog if it is appropriate for them.
  This effort has been 10 years in the making, and it is time that we 
actually bring it to a conclusion. I am grateful that so many of my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to give a special thanks to Representative 
Kathleen Rice, my lead Democrat cosponsor, and the many other folks who 
worked on this bill. I also want to thank the majority leader, Steny 
Hoyer, for bringing it to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, 321 Members of Congress don't agree on a lot, but they 
agree we have got to address the problem of veteran suicide and give 
access to veterans to service dogs if the veterans have post-traumatic 
stress.
  There is a Senate bill. This bill passed the House 2 years ago. My 
version of the bill passed the House 2 years ago but died in the 
Senate. There is now a Senate version with Senator Tillis, Senator 
Sinema, Senator Fischer, and Senator Feinstein. It is bipartisan. I am 
hopeful they will get that done in quick order here. We owe it to these 
veterans to give creative solutions to treat their mental health and 
their anxiety issues.
  Since it was brought up, I do want to mention that this VA study was 
authorized in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. It is 2020. 
That is 10 years. In that time, it was started, studied for 4 years, 
halted, then it began again. It has been delayed three times, and now 
they say it may be out in June. I am hopeful that it is, but we can't 
wait any longer. Our veterans can't wait any longer.
  In the interim, this has been studied at Purdue University and Kaiser 
Permanente, and the studies were conclusive: The efficacy of service 
dogs works. The results are undisputed. There is less anxiety. These 
veterans are on fewer drugs. There is a lower incidence of suicide.
  We can't wait any longer to address this crisis. We must pass this 
bill today.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I 
urge them to support H.R. 4305.
  God bless our veterans. It is time we give them the help they need.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Slotkin), my good friend.
  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the PAWS for Veterans 
Therapy Act. I am incredibly proud to be coleading this bipartisan bill 
to connect veterans with service dogs in their communities and improve 
outcomes for veterans' mental health and well-being.
  There are two amazing organizations in Livingston County in my 
district that train dogs and place them with veterans in need: Veteran 
Service Dogs in Howell, Michigan, and Blue Star Service Dogs in 
Pinckney.
  In December, I had the chance to visit Blue Star Service Dogs for 
myself. It was incredible to see these dogs in action and hear directly 
from veterans about how service dogs are helping them heal from 
depression, PTSD, and so many other invisible service-related wounds.
  Both organizations are doing amazing work for veterans in our 
community, and I want to salute them.
  This bill before us today sets up a pilot program through the VA to 
partner with local nonprofits, just like the ones in my district, to 
create work-therapy programs for veterans to help expand the number of 
veterans who can access the benefits of training and adopting a service 
dog.
  This issue is particularly personal to me. I am an Army wife. I am 
married to a 30-year Army officer, an Apache pilot. I have a step-
daughter currently on Active Duty, a son-in-law on Active Duty, and my 
other step-daughter is a physician at the VA.
  While we make the decision to send men and women to fight for our 
country, we make the decision to support them for the rest of their 
lives. That is a nonpartisan responsibility, and it couldn't be more 
clear or more urgent, especially as we recognize the staggering rate of 
suicide in the veteran community.

                              {time}  1245

  Every day, an average of 17 veterans are victims of suicide. Think 
about that. Within the community of veterans that served in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, more veterans have been lost to suicide than to combat, 
which is both devastating and unacceptable.
  The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act will have a real impact on 
improving the well-being of our veterans. All you need to do is talk to 
a veteran suffering from depression or PTSD to understand what adopting 
a dog does for their lives.
  I am incredibly proud of what this bill represents: a group of 
Democrats and Republicans finding an area of strong common ground and 
pushing legislation to a vote that could have significant impact.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. John W. Rose), my good friend and fellow 
colleague.
  Mr. JOHN W. ROSE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act, or 
PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act.
  I thank the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee for yielding me 
this time and for his service to the good people of Tennessee.
  I also wholeheartedly thank Representative Stivers for approaching me 
about cosponsoring this outstanding policy proposal. His leadership on 
this issue is truly appreciated by me, but more importantly, by 
America's veterans.
  While we are enjoying a time of unparalleled economic growth in my 
lifetime, a safer and more secure Nation, and 243 years of enduring 
freedom made possible in no small part by the sacrifice of our 
servicemembers, we also live in a time when approximately 20 veterans 
are lost to suicide every day.
  This heartbreaking reality calls us to action. Research has 
demonstrated the powerful effect of service dogs in the lives of those 
suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. These loyal companions 
have been shown to lead to stronger mental health, greater purpose in 
life, and renewed hope.
  Today, I stand up for our veterans in Tennessee and all of our 
veterans across the country who would find support from PAWS. I invite 
my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to

[[Page H780]]

join us in supporting our veterans and vote for the PAWS for Veterans 
Therapy Act.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to 
yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz), an Army 
veteran from Florida's Sixth Congressional District.
  Mr. WALTZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of this important 
legislation, H.R. 4305, the PAWS Act.
  As a combat veteran, I have personally relied on service dogs in 
battle. We all recently witnessed the important role that service dogs 
play in combat roles and in national security when we saw Conan, the 
Belgian Malinois, who participated in the raid that killed ISIS leader 
al-Baghdadi. Service dogs also play an important role in transitioning 
veterans back to civilian life.
  There is no denying these connections. The support they provide our 
veterans puts that connection on an entirely different level of 
importance. Many of our veterans return back from their service not the 
same as when they left, and I can personally attest to that.
  They have three bad choices: either they don't come home, they come 
home missing limbs, or they certainly come home--when you have been in 
combat--different mentally than when they left.
  These invisible wounds often make life very difficult for our 
veterans who have served. We owe them. The least we can do is to 
provide a full menu of options to their medical providers when they 
need help, whether those are medicines, whether those are 
unconventional treatments like hyperbaric chambers, or whether they are 
service dogs. That should be one of the options that our providers can 
provide.
  I had the personal opportunity to meet with several veterans who have 
benefited from these service animals in my district last year and their 
stories were just incredible.
  The common theme amongst all of them was that they either completely 
eliminated or drastically reduced the amount of medication that they 
were on as a result of PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
  Almost all of these veterans who had service dogs in their lives not 
only reduced their medications, but they got out more and they 
socialized more. The dog served as an important and positive forcing 
function in their lives.
  I think this legislation is long overdue. This is long overdue for 
the VA to provide. I love the fact that it engages our veteran service 
organizations like K9s for Warriors which is just north of my district 
in St. Johns County, and others.
  These dogs can be life changing, and they have been life changing, 
and they should continue to be, and they should be provided by us, by 
our society that owes these vets so much.
  Our veterans deserve to live happy lives after their service, and we 
should do everything that we can to ensure their well-being. I urge my 
colleagues to pass this important bill.
  I thank my colleagues Representative Roe and Representative Stivers 
for their leadership, and we all should let them know and let these 
veterans know that we have their six and the House of Representatives 
stands with them on their path to healing.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the 
balance of my time, as I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to 
close.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this 
needed legislation and I associate my remarks with what Mr. Waltz just 
stated.
  Anyone who has ever had the joy--as I have through my entire life--to 
have those animals associated with you knows how uplifting and helpful 
it can be to these people. As has been mentioned many times, we have 
not been making a dent in our suicide rate, and it is time to start 
thinking out of the box.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 4305, as amended, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Garcia of Illinois). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4305, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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