PAWS For Veterans Therapy Act Passes the House

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, H.R. 1448, the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act was passed by the House of Representatives in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. The bill is sponsored by Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH), and lead cosponsors include Representatives Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), John Rutherford (R-FL), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), and Neal Dunn (R-FL).

The bill is now headed to the U.S. Senate for consideration, where a bipartisan coalition led by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) have introduced companion legislation.

"As a Major General, and as the Representative for over 43,000 veterans in Ohio's 15th District, I've heard from countless individuals who've told me that working with a service dog has given them their freedom," Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) said. "These men and women fought to protect the American way of life: the ability to go to work, to spend time with their family, to give back to their communities. With the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, we can make sure that they're able to enjoy the things they fought to make possible. I'm grateful to the bipartisan coalition that has supported this legislation, and I am confident we can put it on the President's desk by Memorial Day."

"Our veterans deserve access to every proven mental health resource available, including service dogs," said Representative Kathleen Rice (D-NY). "And with 20 veterans dying every single day by suicide, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act is not just about improving lives, it's about saving them. I was thrilled to join Rep. Stivers and our other bipartisan co-leads to push this critical bill over the finish line in the House, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass it as well."

"As a veteran, I've seen firsthand the healing that comes from veterans in need working with service dogs and the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act creates a program to facilitate these relationships," said Representative Michael Waltz (R-FL). "These brave men and women have put their lives on the line and often return home from deployment with trauma that demands to be treated. The science is clear service dogs help our veterans and the U.S. has an obligation to use every means to help our veterans."

"I'm grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the overwhelming support for the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, which will help connect veterans with service dogs in their communities, and improve veterans' mental health and wellbeing," said Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). "When we make the decision to send young men and women to fight for our country, we make the decision to support them for the rest of their lives, and as a military spouse and step mom, that commitment is personal to me. What's particularly great about this bill is that it could directly support the work that amazing organizations like Blue Star Service Dogs and Veteran Service Dogs are doing for veterans in my district. Today's vote is a huge victory for our veterans and I'm eager to work with our colleagues in the Senate to get this bill on the President's desk."

"Dog owners around the world will tell you about the special connection between humans and their canine companions," said Representative John Rutherford (R-FL). "The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act harnesses that unique bond to serve those who suffer the invisible injuries of war. I'm proud to work with a bipartisan coalition to pass this bill and get it one step closer to the president's desk."

"I am proud to support the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act in the 117th Congress. Working with service dogs has proven therapeutic benefits for veterans. The K9 counterparts help veterans struggling with PTSD get their lives back. These brave men and women have sacrificed a great deal for us. We owe it to them to expand opportunities for those struggling with their mental health," said Dr. Neal Dunn (R-FL)

"The VFW supports this legislation to authorize VA to provide service dogs to veterans seeking mental health care through grants to eligible organizations, and requires continuance of care to maintain canine health insurance eligibility. Many studies and anecdotal notes have found veterans with service dogs decrease their use of medications such as opioids for chronic pain linked to PTSD. Veterans who have service dogs also experience increased participation in social settings and overall satisfaction with life. Also, ensuring the veterans actively participate and receive training will give them accountability and a sense of purpose in their treatment," said Tammy Barlet, Associate Director for National Legislative Service for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"The American Kennel Club believes that properly trained service dogs can be invaluable to the mental and emotional health of our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country. We laud Congressman Stiver's leadership in championing the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act. This bill highlights the extraordinary value of the human-animal bond and establishes a groundbreaking pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow veterans to gain therapy through both the training of service dogs provided and monitored by qualified non-profit organizations and, upon completion of training, adoption or placement of the dog for continuing therapy," said Shelia Goffe, Vice President of Government Relations of the American Kennel Club.

"Today marks a momentous first step towards saving more veteran lives from suicide. This pilot program will give greater insight into how canine therapies and Service Dogs can be used as part of a treatment for PTSD. Tremendous thanks and credit go to Representative Stivers and his staff, as well as the House Veterans Affairs Committee leadership, members, and their staff members. We would not be where we are today without their dedication and commitment to our nation's veterans," said Rory Diamond, Chief Executive Officer of K9s for Warriors

"Veterans suffering from invisible wounds of war are now one step closer to being afforded the opportunity to seek this unique and scientifically proven treatment through VA," said Justin Jump, National President of The Enlisted Association (TREA). "TREA thanks Congressman Stivers and Congresswoman Rice for their leadership on this bill, and to all of its cosponsors for their continued support."

"We consistently see incredible transformations in veterans thanks to relationships built with their psychiatric service dogs in our Pets and Vets program," said Elena Bicker, executive director at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation. "Confidence, trust and patience return to both the veterans and dogs. Passing the PAWS Act is a huge step in Saving Both Ends of the Leash®. We thank Congressman Stivers and the many dedicated cosponsors for working to provide our nation's veterans the proven, effective assistance they deserve."

"Allstate is a proud supporter of the PAWS Act, and we're very pleased to see this meaningful legislation advance through the House," said Desmond Spencer, Allstate manager of federal and regulatory affairs. "As an Air Force veteran, I've seen firsthand the difficulties many of my friends and former colleagues experienced while transitioning back to civilian life. Americans must come together to address the alarmingly high rate of suicide among former service members, and the PAWS Act provides those most in need with two of life's most important things: unconditional love and a sense of purpose. And as an Ohio State graduate who was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, I couldn't be more honored to see Congressman Stivers lead the way."

BACKGROUND:

The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act would establish a pilot program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide veterans with access to work therapy, where they will learn to train dogs for service, in order to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). After graduating from training, the veteran can adopt his or her newly-certified canine partner to provide continuous treatment. Dogs who complete training will have a unique set of skills to help treat PTS, including "blocking," which helps a veteran maintain personal space in public, or waking a veteran experiencing a nightmare.

This legislation passes in the midst of Mental Health Awareness Month. As many as 22 veterans die by suicide each day, and anywhere from 11 to 30 percent (dependent on the conflict era) suffer from PTS. The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act makes an additional tool available to those for whom medication or talk therapy has not alleviated symptoms.

This type of treatment is backed by peer-reviewed research from Kaiser Permanente and Purdue University which showed that working with service dogs led to better interpersonal relationships, lower risk of substance abuse, and overall better mental health. Moreover, in February, the VA released preliminary findings of its own decades-long study that further advances the body of research surrounding this type of treatment.

The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act was cosponsored by 315 Members, and garnered support from numerous organizations in the 116th Congress or in a previous Congress:

Nestle Purina
Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation
Allstate Insurance
The American Kennel Club
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The American Legion
Blue Star Service Dogs
The Veteran Service Dog Organization of Livingston, Michigan
paws4people
The Humane Society
K9s for Warriors
SemperK9

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