Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3885, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.

This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a 5-year pilot program in at least three medical centers for assessing the effectiveness of treating postdeployment mental illness, such as PTSD, through assistance dog training.

The pilot would allow veterans battling these invisible wounds to assist certified dog trainers in training assistance animals. The veterans will work with their dogs in their care, the trainers who are guiding the curriculum and with other wounded warriors to train dogs to become valuable therapy animals, with the animals having learned some 90 different commands. At the same time, the veterans learn valuable lessons about themselves and their world, which they need to learn so they can recover and reintegrate into society.

Once trained, the therapy dogs will be provided to other disabled veterans to aid them in daily activities, like opening doors, retrieving fallen items, et cetera. As an added benefit, the veteran dog trainers are provided vocational experience should they choose to pursue service dog training as a career path.

Just as Chairman Filner said, there are similar programs that are very successful at Palo Alto and at Walter Reed, and trying to replicate this, I think, is extremely important. These veterans who are participating are seeing great improvements, not only in their sleep but in their social interaction, in their emotional regulation, patience, trust, sense of purpose, and personal meaning. All of these things are extremely important for veterans to be able to reintegrate into society. Some of them have even been able to reduce their medications as a result of lowering their anxiety levels, which, I think, is extremely important. As we continue to hear these stories of healing and hope, I think this bill goes a long way toward giving the necessary assurances to these veterans.

Madam Speaker, I know there are few things we take as seriously as our commitment to serving those who have served us in combat, especially when they return home with physical and mental scars. So, if there is anything that we can do to be helpful to them, we would like to do that. You know, sometimes the obvious can be right in front of us. We all know that cherished feeling of having a pet--we learned it as children--and if there is anything that we can do to touch the heart of a veteran which can help him in the healing process, it is a good thing.

So I want to thank my colleague, former Chairman and now Ranking Member Brown, for bringing this bill. This pilot will provide much- needed scientific grounding into these dynamics and into the efficacy of a therapeutic model that will help these veterans. I think this is a wonderful bill.

I want to thank Chairman Filner and subcommittee Chairman Mike Michaud for their leadership and for their assistance in moving this bill forward.

Once again, I know Henry Brown is going to be retiring, and we are going to miss his leadership on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. It is only fitting that Henry would bring a bill such as this. His own daughter was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, so he knows the need of having not only compassion for people but also compassion for animals. He knows how it can touch people and promote their healing. Henry's deep commitment to helping others in need and, in particular, our veterans is unparalleled, so I want to thank Henry Brown for bringing this bill to the floor for consideration today.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3885, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.

This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a 5-year pilot program in at least three medical centers for assessing the effectiveness of treating postdeployment mental illness, such as PTSD, through assistance dog training.

The pilot would allow veterans battling these invisible wounds to assist certified dog trainers in training assistance animals. The veterans will work with their dogs in their care, the trainers who are guiding the curriculum and with other wounded warriors to train dogs to become valuable therapy animals, with the animals having learned some 90 different commands. At the same time, the veterans learn valuable lessons about themselves and their world, which they need to learn so they can recover and reintegrate into society.

Once trained, the therapy dogs will be provided to other disabled veterans to aid them in daily activities, like opening doors, retrieving fallen items, et cetera. As an added benefit, the veteran dog trainers are provided vocational experience should they choose to pursue service dog training as a career path.

Just as Chairman Filner said, there are similar programs that are very successful at Palo Alto and at Walter Reed, and trying to replicate this, I think, is extremely important. These veterans who are participating are seeing great improvements, not only in their sleep but in their social interaction, in their emotional regulation, patience, trust, sense of purpose, and personal meaning. All of these things are extremely important for veterans to be able to reintegrate into society. Some of them have even been able to reduce their medications as a result of lowering their anxiety levels, which, I think, is extremely important. As we continue to hear these stories of healing and hope, I think this bill goes a long way toward giving the necessary assurances to these veterans.

Madam Speaker, I know there are few things we take as seriously as our commitment to serving those who have served us in combat, especially when they return home with physical and mental scars. So, if there is anything that we can do to be helpful to them, we would like to do that. You know, sometimes the obvious can be right in front of us. We all know that cherished feeling of having a pet--we learned it as children--and if there is anything that we can do to touch the heart of a veteran which can help him in the healing process, it is a good thing.

So I want to thank my colleague, former Chairman and now Ranking Member Brown, for bringing this bill. This pilot will provide much- needed scientific grounding into these dynamics and into the efficacy of a therapeutic model that will help these veterans. I think this is a wonderful bill.

I want to thank Chairman Filner and subcommittee Chairman Mike Michaud for their leadership and for their assistance in moving this bill forward.

Once again, I know Henry Brown is going to be retiring, and we are going to miss his leadership on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. It is only fitting that Henry would bring a bill such as this. His own daughter was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, so he knows the need of having not only compassion for people but also compassion for animals. He knows how it can touch people and promote their healing. Henry's deep commitment to helping others in need and, in particular, our veterans is unparalleled, so I want to thank Henry Brown for bringing this bill to the floor for consideration today.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, last week, due to a death in the family, I was not present to vote on the House floor. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

Rollcall 291: H. Con. Res. 278 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree--``yes.''

Rollcall 292: H.R. 1017 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 293:. H.R. 5330 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 294: H.R. 5145 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 295: H. Res. 1258 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 296: H. Res. 1382 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 297: H. Res. 584 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 298: H.R. 3885 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 299: H.R. 2711 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendments--``yes.''

Rollcall 300: H. Res. 1189 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 301: H. Res. 1172 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 302: H. Res. 1347 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 303: H. Res. 1385 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 304: H. Res. 1316 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 305: H. Res. 1169 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 306: H. Con. Res. 282 On Agreeing to the Resolution--``no.''

Rollcall 307: H. Res. 1404 On Agreeing to the Resolution--``no.''

Rollcall 308: H. Res. 1161 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 309: H. Res. 1372 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 310: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 311: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 312: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 313: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 314: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 315: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 316: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 317: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 318: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 319: H.R. 5136 On Approving the Journal--``no.''

Rollcall 320: H. Res. 1391 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 321: H. Res. 1403 On Ordering the Previous Question--``no.''

Rollcall 322: H. Res. 1403 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 323: H. Res. 1403 On Agreeing to the Resolution, as Amended--``no.''

Rollcall 324: H.R. 4213 On Concurring in the Senate amdt with amdt (except portion comprising section 532--``no.''

Rollcall 325: H.R. 4123 On concurring in Senate amdt with portion of amdt comprising section 523--``no.''

Rollcall 326: H.R. 5116 First Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 327: H.R. 5116 Second Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 328: H.R. 5116 Sixth Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 329: H.R. 5116 Seventh Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 330: H.R. 5116 Eighth Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 331: H.R. 5116 Ninth Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 332: H.R. 5116 On Passage--``no.''

Rollcall 333: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the En Bloc Amendments, as Modified--``yes.''

Rollcall 334: H.R. 5136 Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair-- ``no.''

Rollcall 335: H.R. 5136 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 336: H.R. 5136 On Passage--``no.''

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3885) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3885.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3885, the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act.

I want to thank the ranking member of the Health Subcommittee, Congressman Brown from South Carolina, for bringing us this legislation.

Madam Speaker, we all recognize how damaging the invisible wounds of war can be. The need for effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder and for other conditions, such as depression and substance abuse, is apparent, I think, to all Americans. This act recognizes and meets this need by exploring an innovative and promising new form of treatment, using the training of service dogs as a therapeutic medium.

The bill would require the VA to establish a pilot program where veterans with PTSD, or with other postdeployment mental health conditions, would help train service dogs. Through this pilot program, we can test the potential therapeutic benefits to participating veterans. Similar programs are already in existence within the Palo Alto VA Health Care System and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of participants who have reported improved emotional regulation, regular sleep patterns, feelings of personal safety, and reduced levels of anxiety and social isolation. Moreover, these participants tout a strong sense of purpose that they derive from their participation in the program.

Madam Speaker, this bill will allow us to further study this innovative new treatment modality beyond the existing anecdotal evidence, and it will help us assess its place in the VA health care system.

I urge the support of all of my colleagues, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I would urge unanimous support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3885) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3885.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3885, the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act.

I want to thank the ranking member of the Health Subcommittee, Congressman Brown from South Carolina, for bringing us this legislation.

Madam Speaker, we all recognize how damaging the invisible wounds of war can be. The need for effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder and for other conditions, such as depression and substance abuse, is apparent, I think, to all Americans. This act recognizes and meets this need by exploring an innovative and promising new form of treatment, using the training of service dogs as a therapeutic medium.

The bill would require the VA to establish a pilot program where veterans with PTSD, or with other postdeployment mental health conditions, would help train service dogs. Through this pilot program, we can test the potential therapeutic benefits to participating veterans. Similar programs are already in existence within the Palo Alto VA Health Care System and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of participants who have reported improved emotional regulation, regular sleep patterns, feelings of personal safety, and reduced levels of anxiety and social isolation. Moreover, these participants tout a strong sense of purpose that they derive from their participation in the program.

Madam Speaker, this bill will allow us to further study this innovative new treatment modality beyond the existing anecdotal evidence, and it will help us assess its place in the VA health care system.

I urge the support of all of my colleagues, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I would urge unanimous support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.