[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12526]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                WOUNDED WARRIOR SERVICE DOG ACT OF 2013

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing the bipartisan 
Wounded Warrior Service Dog Act of 2013. This important bill aims to 
address a demonstrated need among our veteran population. With so many 
veterans returning from war, bearing both physical and emotional scars, 
we must do all we can to provide treatment that works.
  On a recent visit to the National Education for Assistance Dog 
Services, or NEADS, located in Princeton, Massachusetts, I heard 
amazing stories about how service dogs are helping to treat veterans 
with physical disabilities, as well as those suffering from 
posttraumatic stress. This nonprofit organization has connected many 
deserving veterans with service dogs over the past few years with 
incredible results.
  In recent years, the demand for service dogs has grown significantly, 
and organizations like NEADS are having trouble meeting high levels of 
demand. To address this shortage, the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Act 
of 2013 would create a competitive grant program for nonprofits that 
train service dogs for use by veterans. It is my sincere hope that 
through this program we can better connect our veterans with service 
dogs in an effort to ease their transition into civilian life.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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