Public Law 117–37 117th Congress
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy, and to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses who do not have mobility impairments.
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. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG TRAINING THERAPY.
IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to provide canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as ''PTSD'') as an element of a complementary and integrative health program for such veterans.
MEDICAL CENTERS.—The Secretary shall ensure that such pilot program is carried out by not fewer than five medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in geographically diverse areas.
AGREEMENTS WITH ENTITIES.—In carrying out the pilot pro-gram under subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to enter into agreements with nongovernmental entities that the Secretary determines have the demonstrated ability to provide the canine training specified in subsection (a).
REQUIRED CONDITIONS.—The Secretary shall include in any agreement under subsection (c) conditions requiring that the non-governmental entity seeking to enter into the agreement—
submits to the Secretary certification that the entity is an accredited service dog training organization;
agrees to ensure that veterans participating in the pilot program under subsection (a) receive training from certified service dog training instructors for a period of time determined appropriate by the entity;
agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such pilot programs are prohibited from having access to a dog under
Aug. 25, 2021
[H.R. 1448]
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act.
38 USC 101 note.
38 USC 1714
note.
Deadline.
Determination.
Certification. Determination.
Consultation. Determination.
Determination.
Recommendations.
such pilot program at any time during such participation without the supervision of a certified service dog training instructor;
COLLECTION OF DATA.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—
whether participation in the pilot program resulted in any clinically relevant improvements for such veterans, as determined by the health care provider or clinical team that referred the veteran to participate in the pilot pro-gram; and
such other factors as the Secretary may determine appropriate; and
whether to extend or make permanent the pilot pro-gram; and
the feasibility and advisability of expanding the pilot program to address mental health conditions other than PTSD.
REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a report on the pilot program. Such report shall include an evaluation of the approach and methodology used for the pilot program with respect to—
has been recommended for participation in the pilot program under subsection (a) by a qualified mental health care provider or clinical team based on medical judgment that the veteran may benefit from such participation with respect to the diagnosed PTSD of the veteran.
The term ''service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who provides the direct training of veterans with PTSD in the art and science of service dog training and handling.
SEC. 3. PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS AND VETERINARY INSURANCE BENEFITS TO VETERANS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER WHO DO NOT HAVE CERTAIN IMPAIRMENTS.
''(f)(1) The Secretary shall provide to any veteran described in paragraph (2) a commercially available veterinary insurance policy for each dog provided to such veteran under subsection (b) or (c).
''(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who—
Deadline.
Evaluation.
38 USC 1714
note.
''(A) is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or a visual, hearing, or substantial mobility impairment;
''(B) has received a dog under subsection (b) or (c) in connection with such disorder or impairment; and
''(C) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe.''.
APPLICABILITY.—Section 1714(f) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to a veteran provided a dog by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved August 25, 2021.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1448:
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117–31 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 167 (2021):
May 12, considered and passed House. Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate.
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy, and to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses who do not have mobility impairments.
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. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG TRAINING THERAPY.
IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to provide canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as ''PTSD'') as an element of a complementary and integrative health program for such veterans.
- DURATION; MEDICAL CENTERS.—
MEDICAL CENTERS.—The Secretary shall ensure that such pilot program is carried out by not fewer than five medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in geographically diverse areas.
AGREEMENTS WITH ENTITIES.—In carrying out the pilot pro-gram under subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to enter into agreements with nongovernmental entities that the Secretary determines have the demonstrated ability to provide the canine training specified in subsection (a).
REQUIRED CONDITIONS.—The Secretary shall include in any agreement under subsection (c) conditions requiring that the non-governmental entity seeking to enter into the agreement—
submits to the Secretary certification that the entity is an accredited service dog training organization;
agrees to ensure that veterans participating in the pilot program under subsection (a) receive training from certified service dog training instructors for a period of time determined appropriate by the entity;
agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such pilot programs are prohibited from having access to a dog under
Aug. 25, 2021
[H.R. 1448]
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act.
38 USC 101 note.
38 USC 1714
note.
Deadline.
Determination.
Certification. Determination.
Consultation. Determination.
Determination.
Recommendations.
such pilot program at any time during such participation without the supervision of a certified service dog training instructor;
- agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such pilot program receive training in skills unique to the needs of the veteran to address or alleviate PTSD symptoms of the veteran;
- agrees not to use shock collars or prong collars as training tools and to use positive reinforcement training; and
- agrees to provide any follow-up training support specified in subsection (e)(2), as applicable.
- ADOPTION OF DOG.—
- FOLLOW-UP TRAINING SUPPORT.—If a veteran adopts a dog under paragraph (1), the entity that provided the canine training with respect to the dog under the pilot program shall provide follow-up training support for the life of the dog. Such support shall include the provision of a contact plan between the veteran and the entity that enables the veteran to seek and receive assistance from the entity to ensure the dog is being properly cared for.
COLLECTION OF DATA.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—
- develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure, with respect to veterans participating in the pilot program under subsection (a)—
- the number of such veterans participating;
whether participation in the pilot program resulted in any clinically relevant improvements for such veterans, as determined by the health care provider or clinical team that referred the veteran to participate in the pilot pro-gram; and
such other factors as the Secretary may determine appropriate; and
- establish processes to document and track the progress of such veterans under the pilot program with respect to health benefits and improvements.
whether to extend or make permanent the pilot pro-gram; and
the feasibility and advisability of expanding the pilot program to address mental health conditions other than PTSD.
- GAO BRIEFING AND STUDY.—
REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General shall submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a report on the pilot program. Such report shall include an evaluation of the approach and methodology used for the pilot program with respect to—
- assisting veterans with PTSD; and
- DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
- provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD; and
- The term ''eligible veteran'' means a veteran who—
has been recommended for participation in the pilot program under subsection (a) by a qualified mental health care provider or clinical team based on medical judgment that the veteran may benefit from such participation with respect to the diagnosed PTSD of the veteran.
The term ''service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who provides the direct training of veterans with PTSD in the art and science of service dog training and handling.
SEC. 3. PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS AND VETERINARY INSURANCE BENEFITS TO VETERANS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER WHO DO NOT HAVE CERTAIN IMPAIRMENTS.
- IN GENERAL.—Section 1714 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: ''(e) The Secretary may provide a service dog to a veteran under subsection (c)(3) regardless of whether the veteran has a
''(f)(1) The Secretary shall provide to any veteran described in paragraph (2) a commercially available veterinary insurance policy for each dog provided to such veteran under subsection (b) or (c).
''(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who—
Deadline.
Evaluation.
38 USC 1714
note.
''(A) is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or a visual, hearing, or substantial mobility impairment;
''(B) has received a dog under subsection (b) or (c) in connection with such disorder or impairment; and
''(C) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe.''.
APPLICABILITY.—Section 1714(f) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to a veteran provided a dog by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved August 25, 2021.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1448:
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117–31 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 167 (2021):
May 12, considered and passed House. Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate.
