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PAWS Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-1022| House 
| Updated: 3/22/2021
John H. Rutherford

John H. Rutherford

Republican Representative

Florida

Cosponsors (43)
Al Lawson (Democratic)Chris Stewart (Republican)Tim Ryan (Democratic)Yvette Herrell (Republican)Chris Pappas (Democratic)Stephanie N. Murphy (Democratic)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)Steve Stivers (Republican)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Scott Franklin (Republican)Van Taylor (Republican)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican)Michael Waltz (Republican)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Rodney Davis (Republican)Marilyn Strickland (Democratic)Josh Harder (Democratic)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Lucy McBath (Democratic)Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican)Antonio Delgado (Democratic)David G. Valadao (Republican)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Matt Gaetz (Republican)Tom Reed (Republican)Bill Posey (Republican)Greg Pence (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican)Jason Crow (Democratic)Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican)Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican)Troy Balderson (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2021 or the PAWS Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a grant program for the purpose of pairing service dogs with eligible veterans. Organizations that receive grants must provide veterinary health insurance coverage, hardware, and travel expenses for each service dog and veteran participating in the program. Eligible veterans are those who (1) are enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) have been evaluated and treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but remain diagnosed with PTSD, (3) may benefit from a service dog, and (4) agree to successfully complete training provided by an eligible organization. Veterans are required to see a VA health care provider at least once every six months to determine whether the veteran continues to benefit from a service dog. Eligible organizations are nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to veterans with PTSD, meet publicly available standards set forth by the Association of Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans, have expertise in the needs of veterans with PTSD, agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee the benefits of the program, agree to reaccept or replace a service dog provided to a veteran, and submit an application to the VA. Any improvement in PTSD symptoms as a result of the provision of a service dog shall not affect the veteran's eligibility for any other VA benefits. The Government Accountability Office must report on the grant program.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3147
PAWS Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3103
PAWS Act of 2019
Feb 11, 2021
Introduced in House
Feb 11, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 22, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 23, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-951
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3147
    PAWS Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3103
    PAWS Act of 2019


  • February 11, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • February 11, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 22, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • June 23, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-951
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.

Armed Forces and National Security

Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsMammalsMental healthNeurological disordersPerformance measurementService animalsTransportation costsVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' medical careVeterinary medicine and animal diseases

PAWS Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-1022| House 
| Updated: 3/22/2021
Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers Act of 2021 or the PAWS Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a grant program for the purpose of pairing service dogs with eligible veterans. Organizations that receive grants must provide veterinary health insurance coverage, hardware, and travel expenses for each service dog and veteran participating in the program. Eligible veterans are those who (1) are enrolled in the VA health care system, (2) have been evaluated and treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but remain diagnosed with PTSD, (3) may benefit from a service dog, and (4) agree to successfully complete training provided by an eligible organization. Veterans are required to see a VA health care provider at least once every six months to determine whether the veteran continues to benefit from a service dog. Eligible organizations are nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to veterans with PTSD, meet publicly available standards set forth by the Association of Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans, have expertise in the needs of veterans with PTSD, agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount to guarantee the benefits of the program, agree to reaccept or replace a service dog provided to a veteran, and submit an application to the VA. Any improvement in PTSD symptoms as a result of the provision of a service dog shall not affect the veteran's eligibility for any other VA benefits. The Government Accountability Office must report on the grant program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3147
PAWS Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-3103
PAWS Act of 2019
Feb 11, 2021
Introduced in House
Feb 11, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 22, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 23, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-951
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3147
    PAWS Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-3103
    PAWS Act of 2019


  • February 11, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • February 11, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 22, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • June 23, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-951
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
John H. Rutherford

John H. Rutherford

Republican Representative

Florida

Cosponsors (43)
Al Lawson (Democratic)Chris Stewart (Republican)Tim Ryan (Democratic)Yvette Herrell (Republican)Chris Pappas (Democratic)Stephanie N. Murphy (Democratic)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)Steve Stivers (Republican)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Scott Franklin (Republican)Van Taylor (Republican)Robert J. Wittman (Republican)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican)Michael Waltz (Republican)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Rodney Davis (Republican)Marilyn Strickland (Democratic)Josh Harder (Democratic)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Lucy McBath (Democratic)Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (Republican)Antonio Delgado (Democratic)David G. Valadao (Republican)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Matt Gaetz (Republican)Tom Reed (Republican)Bill Posey (Republican)Greg Pence (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican)Jason Crow (Democratic)Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican)Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican)Troy Balderson (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Animal protection and human-animal relationshipsCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsMammalsMental healthNeurological disordersPerformance measurementService animalsTransportation costsVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' medical careVeterinary medicine and animal diseases