Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act

Floor Speech

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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.

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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.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

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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.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford).

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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.

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