Connecting Veterans With Service Animals: Rep. Courtney Votes To Pass The PAWS For Veterans Therapy Act

Statement

Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to pass the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act (H.R. 4305). The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act is a bipartisan bill that would require 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. Rep. Courtney is a co-sponsor of H.R. 4305, which passed the House today with unanimous support by voice vote.

"Thousands of our nation's veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress, mental illness, and other injuries rely on therapy animals," said Congressman Courtney. "The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act would provide resources for veterans training service dogs for mental health treatment, and will help even more of our veterans to get access to well-trained service animals that will give them the support and companionship they need. I want to congratulate my colleague from Ohio, Rep. Steve Stivers, for his work to get this bill across the finish line on behalf of our veterans. I was proud to support this bipartisan legislation, and to vote for its passage today in the House."

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