H.R. 1448 · 117th Congress · House

PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act

Enacted· Became Public Law No: 117-37.
Introduced
Mar 1, 21
Passed House
May 12, 21
Passed Senate
Aug 6, 21
Sent to President
Aug 20, 21
Signed into Law
Aug 25, 21

Executive Summary

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act

This bill implements a program and a policy related to service dog therapy for veterans. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a five-year pilot program to provide canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as an element of a complementary and integrative health program. Eligible veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have been recommended for participation by a qualified mental health care provider or clinical team.

The VA must seek to enter agreements containing specified elements with accredited nongovernmental entities that have demonstrated ability to provide canine training.

Veterans who participate in the program are authorized to adopt the dog they assisted in training if their health provider determines it is in the best interest of the veteran.

The VA must establish processes to document and track the progress of participating veterans with respect to health benefits and improvements.

The Government Accountability Office must brief Congress and submit a report on the program.

The bill also authorizes the VA to provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses, regardless of whether they have a mobility impairment.

Previous Versions

55Aug 6, 2021

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act

This bill implements a program and a policy related to service dog therapy for veterans. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a five-year pilot program to provide canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as an element of a complementary and integrative health program. Eligible veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have been recommended for participation by a qualified mental health care provider or clinical team.

The VA must seek to enter agreements containing specified elements with accredited nongovernmental entities that have demonstrated ability to provide canine training.

The Government Accountability Office must brief Congress and submit a report on the program.

The bill also authorizes the VA to provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses, regardless of whether they have a mobility impairment.

53May 12, 2021

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act

This bill implements a program and a policy related to service dog therapy for veterans. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a five-year pilot program to provide canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as an element of a complementary and integrative health program. Eligible veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have been recommended for participation by a qualified mental health care provider or clinical team.

The VA must seek to enter agreements containing specified elements with accredited nongovernmental entities that have demonstrated ability to provide canine training.

The Government Accountability Office must brief Congress and submit a report on the program.

The bill also authorizes the VA to provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses, regardless of whether they have a mobility impairment.

00Mar 1, 2021

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act

This bill implements a program and a policy related to service dog therapy for veterans. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a five-year 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.

The bill also authorizes the VA to provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses, regardless of whether they have a mobility impairment.

Action Timeline

31
  1. AUG 25, 2021BecameLaw

    Signed by President.

  2. AUG 25, 2021President

    Signed by President.

  3. AUG 25, 2021BecameLaw

    Became Public Law No: 117-37.

    117Yea
    37Nay
    0NV
  4. AUG 25, 2021President

    Became Public Law No: 117-37.

    117Yea
    37Nay
    0NV
  5. AUG 20, 2021President

    Presented to President.

  6. AUG 20, 2021Floor

    Presented to President.

  7. AUG 09, 2021Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. AUG 06, 2021Committee

    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5990)

  9. AUG 06, 2021Discharge

    Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent

    (consideration: CR S5990)

  10. AUG 06, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in Senate

    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

  11. AUG 06, 2021Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

  12. MAY 13, 2021IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

  13. MAY 12, 2021Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 117-31.

    117Yea
    31Nay
    0NV
  14. MAY 12, 2021Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 117-31.

    117Yea
    31Nay
    0NV
  15. MAY 12, 2021Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 16.

  16. MAY 12, 2021Floor

    Mr

    Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  17. MAY 12, 2021Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules

    (consideration: CR H2212-2215)

    2212Yea
    2215Nay
    0NV
  18. MAY 12, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1448.

  19. MAY 12, 2021Floor

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  20. MAY 12, 2021Floor

    Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res. 380, proceedings on H.R. 1448 are considered vacated.

  21. MAY 12, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Pursuant to section 6 of H. Res. 380, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 297; H.R. 433; H.R. 478; H.R. 586; H.R. 721, as amended; H.R. 768; H.R. 810; H.R. 1205; H.R. 1260, as amended; H.R. 1324; H.R. 1448, as amended; H.R. 1475, as amended; H.R. 1480, as amended; H.R. 2862, as amended; H.R. 2955; and H.R. 2981.(consideration: CR H2235-2246; text: CR H2240)

    2235Yea
    2246Nay
    0NV
  22. MAY 12, 2021Floor

    Pursuant to section 6 of H

    Res. 380, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 297; H.R. 433; H.R. 478; H.R. 586; H.R. 721, as amended; H.R. 768; H.R. 810; H.R. 1205; H.R. 1260, as amended; H.R. 1324; H.R. 1448, as amended; H.R. 1475, as amended; H.R. 1480, as amended; H.R. 2862, as amended; H.R. 2955; and H.R. 2981. (consideration: CR H2235-2246; text: CR H2240)

    2235Yea
    2246Nay
    0NV
  23. MAY 04, 2021Committee

    Subcommittee on Health Discharged.

  24. MAY 04, 2021Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  25. MAY 04, 2021Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  26. APR 15, 2021Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

  27. APR 14, 2021Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  28. MAR 18, 2021Calendars

    Motion to place bill on Consensus Calendar filed by Mr. Stivers.

  29. MAR 01, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  30. MAR 01, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  31. MAR 01, 2021IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Committees

8

Veterans' Affairs Committee

ssva00

Referred: Aug 6, 2021

Active

Veterans' Affairs Committee

ssva00

Referred: May 13, 2021

Active

Veterans' Affairs Committee

hsvr00

Referred: May 12, 2021

Active

Veterans' Affairs Committee

hsvr00

Referred: May 4, 2021

Active

Health Subcommittee

hsvr03

Referred: May 4, 2021

Active

Health Subcommittee

hsvr03

Referred: Apr 15, 2021

Active

Health Subcommittee

hsvr03

Referred: Apr 14, 2021

Active

Veterans' Affairs Committee

hsvr00

Referred: Mar 1, 2021

Active