1Beseeching the Congress of the United States and the United
2States Department of Veterans Affairs to consider authorizing
3the use of service dogs for veterans suffering from post-
4traumatic stress disorder or other emotional traumas.

5WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
6estimates that 11% to 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans
7are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
8other emotional traumas; and

9WHEREAS, Many veterans find it hard to trust anyone and
10therefore have difficulty going out in public to interact with
11others; and

12WHEREAS, Combat veterans may resort to confining themselves
13in the home, which can lead to alcoholism, drug addiction or
14depression; and

15WHEREAS, The United States Veterans Administration (VA) pays
16for service dogs for veterans who suffer from physical

1disabilities such as impaired hearing, vision and mobility; and

2WHEREAS, Current Federal regulation does not authorize the
3use of service dogs to assist in the healing of our wounded
4warriors suffering from emotional trauma; and

5WHEREAS, The VA has been developing programs that help
6veterans and animals bond; and

7WHEREAS, The VA has been working with nonprofit associations
8that specialize in equine-assisted therapy to help improve the
9quality of life for injured veterans and to help with the
10emotional and mental health of PTSD sufferers; and

11WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs has sponsored a
12study being conducted by the National Institutes of Health to
13evaluate the use of service dogs for individuals who have been
14diagnosed with PTSD; and

15WHEREAS, The study is to be completed by March of 2014; and

16WHEREAS, Service dogs, psychiatric service dogs or emotional
17support dogs can help mitigate a veteran's disability; and

18WHEREAS, As the greatest nation on earth, we should do
19everything we can to help our wounded veterans heal as quickly
20as possible; and

21WHEREAS, Providing the best and most productive health care
22and therapy, including animal companions as a holistic approach
23for veterans suffering from PTSD, could help prevent veterans
24from needing extensive inpatient care or from hurting themselves
25and their families; therefore be it

26RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives beseech both the
27United States Congress and the United States Department of
28Veterans Affairs to strongly consider authorizing the use of
29service dogs for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress
30disorder and other emotional traumas suffered as a result of

1their dedication and service to their country; and be it further

2RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
3the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to the
4presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each member
5of Congress from Pennsylvania.