Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program to assess the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder through a method where veterans train service dogs for veterans with disabilities.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4305 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4305
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on dog training therapy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 12, 2019
Mr. Stivers (for himself, Miss Rice of New York, Mr. Rutherford, Ms.
Sherrill, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Waltz, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. Roy, and
Mr. Joyce of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on dog training therapy.
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. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) According to the analyses of veteran suicide published
by the Department of Veterans Affairs in August 2016 and titled
``Suicide Among Veterans and Other Americans'', and in June
2018, titled ``VA National Suicide Date Report''--
(A) an average of 20 veterans died by suicide each
day in 2014;
(B) mental health disorders, including major
depression and other mood disorders, have been
associated with increased risk for suicide;
(C) since 2001, the proportion of users of the
Veterans Health Administration with mental health
conditions or substance use disorders has increased
from approximately 27 percent in 2001 to more than 40
percent in 2014; and
(D) overall, suicide rates are highest among
patients with mental health and substance use disorder
diagnoses who are in treatment and lower among those
who received a mental health diagnosis but were not at
risk enough to require enhanced care from a mental
health provider.
(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs must be more
effective in its approach to reducing the burden of veteran
suicide connected to mental health disorders, including post-
traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as
``PTSD''), and new, rigorous scientific research provides
persuasive weight to the growing anecdotal evidence that
service dogs ameliorate the symptoms associated with PTSD, and
in particular, help prevent veteran suicide.
(3) Several organizations have proven track records of
training service dogs for veterans with severe PTSD and
dramatically improving those veterans' quality of life, ability
to re-enter society, and, most importantly, their chances of
survival.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG TRAINING
THERAPY.
(a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after the date
of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall make grants
to one or more appropriate non-government entities for the purpose of
assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health
and post-traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as
``PTSD'') symptoms through a therapeutic medium of training service
dogs for veterans with disabilities.
(b) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program required by
subsection (a) shall be carried out during the five-year period
beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
(c) Conditions on Receipt of Grants.--As a condition of receiving a
grant under this section, a non-government entity shall--
(1) submit to the Secretary certification that the entity
is 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, or adheres to standards
comparable to those of, 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;
(2) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount;
(3) agree to reaccept or replace the service dog the
organization provided to the veteran, if necessary, as
determined by the organization and the veteran;
(4) provide a wellness certification from a licensed
veterinarian for any dog participating in the program;
(5) employ at least one person with clinical experience
related to mental health;
(6) ensure that veterans participating in the pilot program
receive training from certified service dog training
instructors for a period of time determined appropriate by the
organization and the Secretary, including service skills to
address or alleviate symptoms unique to veterans' needs;
(7) agree to provide both lectures on service dog training
methodologies and practical hands-on training and grooming of
service dogs;
(8) agree that in hiring service dog training instructors
to carry out training under the pilot program, the non-
government entity will give a preference to veterans who have
successfully graduated from PTSD or other residential treatment
program and who have received adequate certification in service
dog training;
(9) agree not to use shock collars or prong collars as
training tools and to use positive reinforcement training;
(10) agree that upon the conclusion of training provided
using the grant funds--
(A) the veteran who received the training will keep
the dog unless the veteran and the veteran's health
provider decide it is not in the best interest of the
veteran;
(B) if the veteran does not opt to own the dog, the
entity will be responsible for caring for and
appropriately placing the dog;
(C) the Department of Veterans Affairs will have no
additional responsibility to provide for any benefits
under this section; and
(D) the Department of Veterans Affairs will have no
liability with respect to the dog;
(11) provide follow-up support service for the life of the
dog, including a contact plan between the veteran and the
entity to allow the veteran to reach out for and receive
adequate help with the service dog and the organization to
communicate with the veteran to ensure the service dog is being
properly cared for; and
(12) submit to the Secretary an application containing such
information, certification, and assurances as the Secretary may
require.
(d) Veteran Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--For the purposes of this section, an
eligible veteran is 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;
(B) has been recommended for the pilot program
under this section by a qualified health care provider
or clinical team based on the medical judgment that the
veteran may potentially benefit from participating; and
(C) agrees to successfully complete training
provided by an eligible organization that receives a
grant under this section.
(2) Relationship to participation in other program.--
Veterans may participate in the pilot program in conjunction
with the compensated work therapy program of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
(3) Continuing eligibility requirement.--To remain eligible
to participate in the program, a veteran shall see the health
care provider or clinical team of the Department of Veterans
Affairs treating the veteran for PTSD at least once every six
months to determine, based on a clinical evaluation of
efficacy, whether the veteran continues to benefit from the
program.
(e) Collection of Data.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall--
(1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure,
with respect to veterans participation in the program, the
improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic compliance
of such veterans and changes with respect to the dependence on
prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication of such
veterans;
(2) establish processes to document and track the progress
of such veterans under the program in terms of the benefits and
improvements noted as a result of the program; and
(3) in addition, the Secretary shall continue to collect
these data over the course of five years for each veteran who
has continued with the dog he or she has personally trained.
(f) 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 program.
(2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on
which the program terminates, the Comptroller General shall
submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a report on
the program. Such report shall include an evaluation of the
approach and methodology used for the program with respect to--
(A) helping veterans with severe PTSD return to
civilian life;
(B) relevant metrics, including reduction in
metrics such as reduction in scores under the PTSD
check-list (PCL-5), improvement in psychosocial
function, and therapeutic compliance; and
(C) reducing the dependence of participants on
prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication.
(g) Definition.--For the purposes of this section, the term
``service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who provides
the direct training of veterans with PTSD and other post-deployment
issues in the art and science of service dog training and handling.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Motion to place bill on Consensus Calendar filed by Mr. Stivers.
Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H777-780)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4305.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H777)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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