Wounded Warrior Service Dog Act of 2013

Floor Speech

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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