Hearing of the House Defense Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee - Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Appropriations bill

Hearing

I want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for allowing
me this opportunity to testify today in support of funding a competitive grant program for
nonprofits that train service dogs for our veterans. Specifically, I ask the Committee to support a
$5 million request for the Wounded Warriors Service Dog grant program.

In addition, I request the Committee to insert language addressing the benefits of canine
therapy for the treatment of PTSD and TBI symptoms. I will include this language with my
official statement.

I also want to express my gratitude to the Chairman and Ranking Member for their
assistance in securing the initial funding for this program during the FY15 appropriations
process. Last year this program was awarded $1 million and we are hoping to build upon that
initial funding and continue to grow this competitive grant program.

Mister Chairman, so many of our veterans are returning from war bearing both physical
and emotional scars, we must do what we can to ensure that they have access to treatments that
work. Service dogs have shown to have a positive effect on the treatment of PTSD and TBI
symptoms, and it is not coincidental that we have seen a significant growth in demand for the
service dogs as more of our veterans are returning home in need of this assistance.

During the last Congress I had the opportunity to visit the National Education for
Assistance Dog Services -- or NEADS -- located in Princeton, Massachusetts, I heard amazing
stories about how service dogs are helping to treat veterans with physical disabilities, as well as
those suffering from post-traumatic stress. This nonprofit organization has connected many
deserving veterans with service dogs over the past few years with incredible results.

In the last few years NEADS, like many of the other nonprofits providing this crucial
service, have struggled to meet these growing levels of demand. Many nonprofits that train dogs
for use by veterans are underfunded. The cost of training a service dog varies, but estimates
range between $15,000 and $60,000 per dog, and training can take up to two years. Too often
does a veteran's need for a service dogs often unmet due to financial constraints. This
competitive grant will help ease the increased finical burden that these organizations are facing.
In January, the VA launched a study on the potential benefits of service dogs for
individuals with PTSD, they expect this study to end sometime during 2018 or 2019. But, if you
sit down with just a handful of our veterans who have received a service dog for PTSD, it will
become as clear as day how helpful these dogs are.

Mister Chairman, with so many of our are veterans coming home from war suffering
from post-traumatic stress disorder and other physical disabilities, it is critical that we offer them
multiple treatment options. Connecting veterans with lifesaving service dogs should be one of
those comprehensive care options.

I ask this Committee and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to this competitive
grant program at the levels requested for FY 2016 so that our veterans can receive the treatment
they deserve.

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