OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act

Floor Speech

Date: May 12, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans Health and Health Care

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Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act. I am incredibly proud to be co-leading this bipartisan bill to connect veterans with service dogs in their communities through a new pilot program at the VA.

There are two organizations in Livingston County in my district that train dogs and place them with veterans in need: Veteran Service Dogs in Howell, and Blue Star Service Dogs in Pinckney, Michigan.

In 2019, I had the chance to visit Blue Star Service Dogs. It was incredible to see these dogs in action and to hear directly from the veterans about how these remarkable animals are helping them heal from depression, PTSD, and so many other invisible service-related wounds.

The bill sets up a pilot program through the VA to partner with local nonprofits, just like the ones in my district, to create work-therapy programs for veterans to train and potentially adopt service dogs.

The issue is extremely personal to me. I am an Army wife, married to a 30-year Army officer and Apache pilot. I have a stepdaughter currently on Active Duty and another stepdaughter who is a doctor at the VA. I am also the mom of two wonderful rescue dogs, Rocky and Boomer.

I have seen how big of an impact service dogs can have on people's lives when it comes to dealing with mental illness, and that is why I am so passionate about this pilot program.

When we make the decision to send men and women in to fight for our country, we make the decision to support them for the rest of their lives.

The PAWS for Veterans Service Therapy Act helps us honor the commitment and will have a real impact on the day-to-day well-being of our veterans.

I want to thank Representative Stivers for his leadership on this issue, and wish him all the best as he departs Congress. He is a Republican, but much more concerning for me, he is from Ohio, and we have still managed to work closely together on this issue.

To my colleagues, if I can work with a graduate of Ohio State University, you can get on this darn bill. I urge both sides to join me in supporting the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act.

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