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A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to eligible organizations to provide service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1014| Senate 
| Updated: 5/3/2017
Deb Fischer

Deb Fischer

Republican Senator

Nebraska

Cosponsors (10)
Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Luther Strange (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)John Kennedy (Republican)Bill Nelson (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2017 or the PAWS Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program under which it awards grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after completing other evidence-based treatment. An organization that receives a grant shall provide for each participating service dog and veteran: coverage by a commercially available veterinary health insurance policy, hardware clinically determined to be required by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the veteran, payments for travel expenses to obtain the dog, and travel expenses required to obtain a replacement service dog. To be eligible for a grant, an organization must: (1) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee such benefits, (2) be certified by Assistance Dogs International, (3) provide one-on-one training for each service dog and recipient for 30 hours or more during a period of 90 days or more, and (4) provide an in-house residential facility or other accommodations nearby in which service dog recipients stay for a minimum of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of training. The VA shall develop metrics to measure the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic compliance and changes independence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication of veterans participating in the program. The Government Accountability Office must provide to Congress a briefing on the methodology established for, and a report on, the pilot program.
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Timeline
May 3, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 3, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sep 25, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2327
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Stivers asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be the first sponsor of H.R. 2327, a bill originally introduced by Representative DeSantis, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
  • May 3, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 3, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • September 25, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2327
    ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Stivers asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be the first sponsor of H.R. 2327, a bill originally introduced by Representative DeSantis, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2327: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to eligible organizations to provide service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes.
Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsMammalsMental healthNeurological disordersService animalsSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' medical care

A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to eligible organizations to provide service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1014| Senate 
| Updated: 5/3/2017
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2017 or the PAWS Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a five-year pilot program under which it awards grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide service dogs to veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder after completing other evidence-based treatment. An organization that receives a grant shall provide for each participating service dog and veteran: coverage by a commercially available veterinary health insurance policy, hardware clinically determined to be required by the dog to perform the tasks necessary to assist the veteran, payments for travel expenses to obtain the dog, and travel expenses required to obtain a replacement service dog. To be eligible for a grant, an organization must: (1) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee such benefits, (2) be certified by Assistance Dogs International, (3) provide one-on-one training for each service dog and recipient for 30 hours or more during a period of 90 days or more, and (4) provide an in-house residential facility or other accommodations nearby in which service dog recipients stay for a minimum of 10 days while receiving at least 30 hours of training. The VA shall develop metrics to measure the improvement in psychosocial function and therapeutic compliance and changes independence on prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication of veterans participating in the program. The Government Accountability Office must provide to Congress a briefing on the methodology established for, and a report on, the pilot program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 3, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 3, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sep 25, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2327
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Stivers asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be the first sponsor of H.R. 2327, a bill originally introduced by Representative DeSantis, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
  • May 3, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 3, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • September 25, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2327
    ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Stivers asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be the first sponsor of H.R. 2327, a bill originally introduced by Representative DeSantis, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
Deb Fischer

Deb Fischer

Republican Senator

Nebraska

Cosponsors (10)
Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Luther Strange (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)John Kennedy (Republican)Bill Nelson (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2327: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants to eligible organizations to provide service dogs to veterans with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsMammalsMental healthNeurological disordersService animalsSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' medical care