[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2212-H2215]
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. 1448) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry 
out a pilot program on dog training therapy, and to amend title 38, 
United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses who do not have 
mobility impairments, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1448

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

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to provide 
     canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-
     traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as 
     ``PTSD'') as an element of a complementary and integrative 
     health program for such veterans.
       (b) Duration; Medical Centers.--
       (1) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program under subsection (a) for a five-year period beginning 
     on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
       (2) Medical centers.--The Secretary shall ensure that such 
     pilot program is carried out by not fewer than five medical 
     centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in 
     geographically diverse areas.
       (c) Agreements With Entities.--In carrying out the pilot 
     program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to 
     enter into agreements with nongovernmental entities that the 
     Secretary determines have the demonstrated ability to provide 
     the canine training specified in subsection (a).
       (d) Required Conditions.--The Secretary shall include in 
     any agreement under subsection (c) conditions requiring that 
     the nongovernmental entity seeking to enter into the 
     agreement--
       (1) submits to the Secretary certification that the entity 
     is an accredited service dog training organization;
       (2) agrees to ensure that veterans participating in the 
     pilot program under subsection (a) receive training from 
     certified service dog training instructors for a period of 
     time determined appropriate by the entity;
       (3) agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such 
     pilot program are prohibited from having access to a dog 
     under such pilot program at any time during such 
     participation without the supervision of a certified service 
     dog training instructor;
       (4) agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such 
     pilot program receive training in skills unique to the needs 
     of the veteran to address or alleviate PTSD symptoms of the 
     veteran;
       (5) agrees not to use shock collars or prong collars as 
     training tools and to use positive reinforcement training; 
     and
       (6) agrees to provide any follow-up training support 
     specified in subsection (e)(2), as applicable.
       (e) Adoption of Dog.--
       (1) In general.--A veteran who has participated in the 
     pilot program under subsection (a) may adopt a dog that the 
     veteran assisted in training during such pilot program if the 
     veteran and the veteran's health provider (in consultation 
     with the entity that provided the canine training with 
     respect to the dog under such pilot program) determine that 
     it is in the best interest of the veteran.
       (2) Follow-up training support.--If a veteran adopts a dog 
     under paragraph (1), the entity that provided the canine 
     training with respect to the dog under the pilot program 
     shall provide follow-up training support for the life of the 
     dog. Such support shall include the provision of a contact 
     plan between the veteran and the entity that enables the 
     veteran to seek and receive assistance from the entity to 
     ensure the dog is being properly cared for.
       (f) Eligibility for Other Care and Treatment.--
     Participation in the pilot program under subsection (a) may 
     not preclude a veteran from receiving any other medical care 
     or treatment for PTSD furnished by the Department, including 
     therapy, for which the veteran is otherwise eligible.
       (g) Collection of Data.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Secretary shall--
       (1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure, 
     with respect to veterans participating in the pilot program 
     under subsection (a)--
       (A) the number of such veterans participating;
       (B) the satisfaction of such veterans with the pilot 
     program;
       (C) whether participation in the pilot program resulted in 
     any clinically relevant improvements for such veterans, as 
     determined by the health care provider or clinical team that 
     referred the veteran to participate in the pilot program; and
       (D) such other factors as the Secretary may determine 
     appropriate; and
       (2) establish processes to document and track the progress 
     of such veterans under the pilot program with respect to 
     health benefits and improvements.
       (h) Report by Secretary.--Not later than one year before 
     the date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) 
     terminates, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate a report containing the recommendations of the 
     Secretary regarding--
       (1) whether to extend or make permanent the pilot program; 
     and
       (2) the feasibility and advisability of expanding the pilot 
     program to address mental health conditions other than PTSD.
       (i) 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 pilot program.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on 
     which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General 
     shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a 
     report on the pilot program. Such report shall include an 
     evaluation of the approach and methodology used for the pilot 
     program with respect to--
       (A) assisting veterans with PTSD; and
       (B) measuring relevant metrics, such as reduction in scores 
     under the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), 
     improvement in psychosocial function, and therapeutic 
     compliance.
       (j) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``accredited service dog training 
     organization'' means 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 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 (as determined by the 
     Secretary).
       (2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means 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; and
       (B) has been recommended for participation in the pilot 
     program under subsection (a) by a qualified mental health 
     care provider or clinical team based on medical judgment that 
     the veteran may benefit from such participation with respect 
     to the diagnosed PTSD of the veteran.

[[Page H2213]]

       (3) The term ``service dog training instructor'' means an 
     instructor who provides the direct training of veterans with 
     PTSD in the art and science of service dog training and 
     handling.

     SEC. 3. PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS AND VETERINARY INSURANCE 
                   BENEFITS TO VETERANS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 
                   DISORDER WHO DO NOT HAVE CERTAIN IMPAIRMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 1714 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsections:
       ``(e) The Secretary may provide a service dog to a veteran 
     under subsection (c)(3) regardless of whether the veteran has 
     a mobility impairment.
       ``(f)(1) The Secretary shall provide to any veteran 
     described in paragraph (2) a commercially available 
     veterinary insurance policy for each dog provided to such 
     veteran under subsection (b) or (c).
       ``(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran 
     who--
       ``(A) is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or a 
     visual, hearing, or substantial mobility impairment;
       ``(B) has received a dog under subsection (b) or (c) in 
     connection with such disorder or impairment; and
       ``(C) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may 
     prescribe.''.
       (b) Applicability.--Section 1714(f) of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with 
     respect to a veteran provided a dog by the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs on or after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) 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. 1448, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am so pleased that we have reported Congressman   
Steve Stivers' bill, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, favorably out 
of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and are bringing it to the floor 
today with the support of over 300 Members on both sides of the aisle.
  I am especially pleased to have negotiated, with the help of Ranking 
Member Bost, a new bipartisan version of the bill in time for 
Congressman Stivers to see it move before he leaves Congress.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs has been a leader in offering 
veterans with PTSD and other invisible wounds of war a wide spectrum of 
evidence-based treatment options and adjunctive approaches to promote 
their mental health and well-being. This bill ensures that veterans can 
participate in service dog training through pilot program partnerships 
between VA and accredited service dog training nonprofit organizations 
across the country.
  Madam Speaker, the bill also removes current impediments to VA's 
ability to prescribe mental health service dogs for veterans with PTSD, 
and a newly added section ensures that VA's current veterinary 
insurance benefit is also extended to those veterans receiving mental 
health service dogs through VA.
  I therefore ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the PAWS for 
Veterans Therapy Act.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1448, as amended, the 
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers, or the PAWS for Veterans 
Therapy Act. This bill will help connect veterans with PTSD with 
service dogs by establishing a service dog training pilot program, 
supporting service dog training organizations, and authorizing the VA 
to provide veterans with PTSD service dogs and veterinarian assistance 
for those service dogs.
  The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act is sponsored by Congressman   Steve 
Stivers from Ohio. Representative Stivers is an Army veteran. He has 
spent much of his congressional career advocating for his brothers and 
sisters in arms and has been a champion of this bill for many years. I 
am grateful for his leadership and commitment.
  The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act will further the lifesaving bond 
that exists between man's best friend and veterans in need, and it will 
continue our efforts to promote creative ways to support veterans who 
are struggling.
  I am proud to be one of the 313 cosponsors of the PAWS for Veterans 
Therapy Act, and I am proud to vote in support of it today. I hope that 
all of my colleagues will join me.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Slotkin), my good friend and member of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee and original cosponsor of the bill.
  Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the PAWS for 
Veterans Therapy Act. I am incredibly proud to be co-leading this 
bipartisan bill to connect veterans with service dogs in their 
communities through a new pilot program at the VA.
  There are two organizations in Livingston County in my district that 
train dogs and place them with veterans in need: Veteran Service Dogs 
in Howell, and Blue Star Service Dogs in Pinckney, Michigan.
  In 2019, I had the chance to visit Blue Star Service Dogs. It was 
incredible to see these dogs in action and to hear directly from the 
veterans about how these remarkable animals are helping them heal from 
depression, PTSD, and so many other invisible service-related wounds.
  The bill 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 train and potentially adopt service dogs.
  The issue is extremely personal to me. I am an Army wife, married to 
a 30-year Army officer and Apache pilot. I have a stepdaughter 
currently on Active Duty and another stepdaughter who is a doctor at 
the VA. I am also the mom of two wonderful rescue dogs, Rocky and 
Boomer.
  I have seen how big of an impact service dogs can have on people's 
lives when it comes to dealing with mental illness, and that is why I 
am so passionate about this pilot program.
  When we make the decision to send men and women in to fight for our 
country, we make the decision to support them for the rest of their 
lives.
  The PAWS for Veterans Service Therapy Act helps us honor the 
commitment and will have a real impact on the day-to-day well-being of 
our veterans.
  I want to thank Representative Stivers for his leadership on this 
issue, and wish him all the best as he departs Congress. He is a 
Republican, but much more concerning for me, he is from Ohio, and we 
have still managed to work closely together on this issue.
  To my colleagues, if I can work with a graduate of Ohio State 
University, you can get on this darn bill. I urge both sides to join me 
in supporting the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Stivers). He is an Army officer himself, and is the chief sponsor 
of this bill who has also served in this body and does a great job of 
that. He will be dearly missed.
  Mr. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1448, the 
PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act. As a Major General in the Ohio National 
Guard and a Congressman who represents 43,000 veterans in my district, 
I know the struggle of the invisible wounds of war.

  I have met with a Vietnam veteran who was unable to leave his house 
for decades, a soldier who was deployed to Iraq who, when he returned, 
was addicted to heroin for 7 years, and another who was under my 
command in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His only goal was to take his 
fiancee out to dinner.
  Unfortunately, these three stories are not unique, but these three 
have happy endings. By working with service dogs, these veterans got 
their lives back. Under the status quo, veterans aren't able to access 
this lifesaving treatment that these three veterans have gotten. We 
have a chance today to change that by passing this bill.
  The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act would establish a pilot program. 
This is not even a permanent program; it is a pilot program at the VA 
to provide grants to local service dog training organizations so the 
veterans can benefit

[[Page H2214]]

from work-therapy by learning the art and science of training a dog for 
service. After graduation, the veteran can adopt their canine partner 
if the veteran and/or his VA health provider agree that that veteran 
will benefit from continuing courses of treatment from that therapy 
dog.
  I have seen the peer-reviewed information from Kaiser-Permanente and 
Purdue University that shows that these programs work. They reduce the 
amount of psychotropic drugs that these veterans are on. They reduce 
suicide. They improve overall mental health.
  Today, we lose 22 veteran and Active Duty members a day to suicide. 
We can't let that go on. This can help that effort. It is a small price 
to pay. We can't afford to wait any longer.
  I am, today, calling for us to pass this bill today, take it to the 
Senate, get it hotlined and signed and on the President's desk by 
Memorial Day.
  I do want to thank the bipartisan folks who have helped on this: 
Chairman Takano; Ranking Member Bost; Representative Rice, our lead 
cosponsor; now-Governor Tim Walz, who was the sponsor in the last 
Congress; the floor leader Steny Hoyer; now-Governor DeSantis; Sheriff 
Rutherford; Dr. Dunn; Representative Slotkin; and Representative 
Sherrill. They have all played a very important role.
  I want to thank the staff on Mr. Bost's team, Samantha Gonzalez, 
Christine Hill, Maria Tripplaar; on Mr. Takano's staff, Matt Reel and 
Heather O'Beirne Kelly. Lastly, I want to thank my legislative 
director, Mimi Bair, for all her hard work, and my chief of staff, 
Nick, for his hard work on this as well.
  I know this is asking for a parting gift, but I would ask you all 
vote ``yea'' on this bill. I look forward to seeing this signed soon. I 
want to thank my colleagues for their bipartisan effort on this and 
earnest work to help our veterans.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I am delighted that the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee can, once again, unite America, including Michiganders and 
the Buckeye State.
  I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice), my 
good friend and former member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and 
lead Democratic cosponsor.
  Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 1448, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act. No group in America is 
more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress and other mental 
health conditions than our veterans.
  Tragically, as my friend Congressman Stivers just said, this means 
that 22 veterans are dying every single day by suicide. This is a 
crisis. We cannot look the other way. We must make sure that our 
veterans have access to every available mental health resource out 
there.
  The research on this issue is clear. Service dogs are proven to help 
people suffering from a wide array of mental health conditions, 
including PTSD. I have seen the evidence of this with my own eyes. 
Veterans have told me that they would not be here today if it weren't 
for their service dog. That is how much these dogs mean and that is why 
this bill is so critical.

                              {time}  1245

  By creating a pilot program on dog training therapy at the VA and 
providing service dogs to veterans, this bill won't just improve lives; 
it will save them.
  I am incredibly proud to co-lead this bipartisan bill, and I thank my 
friend, Representative   Steve Stivers, who is a great American and a 
true gentleman, for introducing it.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill today. Madam 
Speaker, I also thank the great chairman of the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee, Congressman Takano.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Rose).
  Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Puppies 
Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS 
Act.
  Americans enjoy the blessings of hard-earned peace and liberty 
because of our warriors who answer the call to defend our country. Our 
men and women in uniform are a constant reminder of the true source of 
our Nation's greatness.
  In middle Tennessee, we have a proud history of military service. Our 
veterans represent the very best of America, and they deserve our full 
support when it comes to ensuring that they have access to the 
resources they need to help them live a meaningful, productive post-
service life.
  It is widely acknowledged that the suicide rate for veterans is 
tragically high, as 20 veterans are lost to suicide every day. We need 
to address this problem.
  No one can deny the emotional and psychological benefits of man's 
best friend, but for our service veterans, that connection has an even 
greater impact. Psychiatric service dogs paired with veterans suffering 
from post-traumatic stress disorder have been shown to provide hope, 
independence, security, and companionship.
  As I travel my home State and speak with our Nation's heroes, I have 
heard how service dogs help improve their quality of life, and I have 
even heard that had it not been for their service dog, they wouldn't be 
with us today. The PAWS Act would pair more servicemembers with quality 
service dogs trained by reputable organizations.
  Every veteran has earned a life after their military service free of 
post-traumatic stress disorder that too often leads to suicide. In that 
regard, we should do everything we can to ensure their well-being. In 
my view, passage of the PAWS Act is a minimum down payment on what we 
owe these brave Americans.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in letting our veterans know 
that Congress stands with them on their path to healing.
  I thank my colleague, Representative Stivers, for his leadership on 
this bill and wish him success as he leaves the House next week.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).
  Miss GONZALEZ-COLON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
1448, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act.
  From a personal standpoint, this legislation would require the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to collaborate with nongovernmental 
entities and carry out a service dog pilot program to address post-
deployment mental health and PTSD in our veterans.
  I have a big community of more than 136,000 veterans in Puerto Rico, 
and well-trained service animals provide disabled veterans with PTSD 
numerous benefits. For example, they can be trained to wake up veterans 
from nightmares, interrupt flashbacks, and quite literally watch their 
backs.
  There is growing evidence that service animal intervention really 
works. Veterans report that animal training can help mitigate the 
effects of intrusive memories while grounding them in the present 
moment. A growing body of research also shows that patients with 
service animals experience a better quality of life, lower levels of 
the stress hormone cortisol, and increased chances of sustaining 
meaningful employment.
  As we all know, the Department of Veterans Affairs is a leader in 
healthcare and research for veterans, and this bill will provide an 
opportunity to support a growing standard of care for our veterans. As 
such, that is the reason I support the bill, and I urge my colleagues 
to vote in favor of H.R. 1448.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Rutherford).
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Bost), my great friend, for yielding me time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the PAWS for Veterans 
Therapy Act.
  I am a proud original cosponsor on General Stivers' bill. This 
bipartisan bill supports veterans who are suffering from TBI and PTSD, 
and it helps them to live better and more fulfilling lives. And it does 
this with the assistance of man's best friend.
  Dog owners around the world will tell you of the special connection 
between humans and their canine companions. The PAWS for Veterans 
Therapy Act harnesses that unique bond in a way to serve those who have 
suffered the invisible injuries of war.

[[Page H2215]]

  Service dogs have already been established as a proven therapy for 
PTSD and other related challenges. Today's legislation not only would 
allow these veterans to adopt a service dog but also give them the 
opportunity to take part in the training of that dog.
  Simply put, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act will save lives.
  I have seen firsthand what a service dog can mean to a veteran 
struggling with PTSD. In northeast Florida, we are blessed to have a 
group called K9s for Warriors, which pairs trained service dogs with 
veterans.
  During my visits to K9s for Warriors, I have often had the 
opportunity to speak with these veterans and listen to their personal 
testimonies of survival. Many have told me: But for that dog, I would 
be dead today.

  Last Congress, we passed the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act out of the 
House, but we were not successful in getting it through the Senate. 
That means, with around 20 veterans taking their lives each day, we 
have since lost 7,300 veterans' lives since we passed it last year.
  We cannot allow that to happen again. I call on the Senate to join 
the House and pass this bill and get it to the President's desk to 
become law.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Before I close, I thank Chairman Takano for working with 
Representative Stivers and myself to find common ground. I would be 
remiss if I did not also thank Majority Leader Hoyer for his 
assistance, scheduling, and consideration of this legislation before 
Representative Stivers leaves the House of Representatives.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I also thank my colleague, the ranking 
member, Congressman Bost from Illinois, for his bipartisanship.
  I do believe that H.R. 1448 is now in a form that would be acceptable 
to the Senate, and I am hopeful that it will pass.
  I wish our colleague from the State of Ohio (Mr. Stivers) the best of 
luck on this new chapter in his life.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 
1448, as amended, 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. Takano) that the House suspend the rules and pass 
the bill, H.R. 1448, as amended.

  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. STIVERS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________