‘A Life Changing Event’: Morgan Luttrell Advocates For Grants To Help Veterans Get Service Dogs

Forbes Breaking News

In a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs markup meeting before the Congressional recess, Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) proposed new legislation establishing grants to help veterans get service dogs. The proposal was met with support from the House Committee.

Transcript

00:00I now call up H.R. 2605, the Saves Act. The clerk will report the bill.

00:08H.R. 2605.

00:10The clerk shall report. The text has been circulated in advance, and pursuant to

00:15committee rules without objection, the first reading is dispensed with, and the

00:18bill is now open for amendments at any point. And I now recognize Representative

00:23Luttrell for the purposes of offering an amendment in the nature of a

00:26substitute. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the disc. The clerk shall report the amendment.

00:29Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2605.

00:32I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment in the nature of a substitute

00:35be dispensed with. I ask it be considered base text for the purpose of this markup,

00:40and without objection, so ordered. I now recognize Representative Luttrell for five

00:44minutes to speak in support of the amendment in the nature of a substitute.

00:48Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today I offer an amendment in the nature of a substitute to the Service Dogs

00:51Assisting Veterans or Saves Act. An important step forward towards improving veterans access to

00:57service dogs. This legislation establishes a pilot program authorizing the secretary to award

01:03competitive grants to nonprofits and provide service dogs to veterans who need them most.

01:10These service animals are a life-changing event, in my opinion. My identical twin brother has had one

01:14since he retired from the military. Service animals provide support for those in need of that have lost

01:21their eyesight for mobility issues, that have post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder,

01:26traumatic brain injury. But not only do they help the veterans, they also help the families.

01:30And as we move forward, I think it's important that we find those tools that you can put in your toolbox

01:37to increase your quality of life and decrease the symptomatic issues for those veterans who are

01:42suffering from things that they've brought back from the war. So I want to thank Mr. McGarvey for walking

01:51alongside me on this one. I really appreciate that, Morgan, the Ranking Member and Mr. Chairman. I

01:55appreciate all the support on this. And with that, I yield back. The gentleman yields back. I now

01:59recognize myself in support of the amendment. Under current law, VA does not provide service dogs,

02:04but does provide care and other benefits for service dogs. Service dogs help veterans deal with

02:11service-connected conditions. They can learn tasks to help veterans who need fiscal assistance,

02:17like opening doors and providing balance support. Service dogs also are recognized signs of distress,

02:24wake veterans from nightmares, calm panic attacks, and provide proven to help reduce feelings of anxiety,

02:33isolation, depression in the veteran community. Representative Latrell's bill would create a pilot

02:40program to award grants to provide service dogs to eligible veterans. Studies have shown that when

02:47paired with veterans, service dogs can mitigate PTSD symptoms by providing veterans with the help they

02:55might need. This is a good bill to look at what more we can do to improve mental health and wellness

03:02for our veterans. I want to thank Representative Latrell for his proposal. Do any other members wish to

03:07comment on the amendment in the nature of a substitute for HR 2605? Mr. Chairman.

03:12Ranking Member. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For many veterans, a relationship with a service dog is an

03:19important tool in their journey to full health. Whether they are assisting disabled veterans with

03:28daily tasks, improving independence, or an ability to navigate for veterans with mobility or sensory issues,

03:35or in some cases, just improving mood and mental health symptoms, service dogs add a lot of value

03:42to their owners' lives. And that's why I'm glad to support Mr. Latrell's legislation, the SAVES Act today.

03:49This bill will authorize me to offer a five-year pilot program to provide service dogs to veterans. It also

03:57outlines crucial requirements and responsibilities for nonprofits that participate in the pilot program

04:03to ensure they are capable and engaged in providing service dogs. It also includes critical protections

04:11to ensure the nonprofits are accredited properly and treat the animals they work with humanely.

04:18For veterans that VA determines would benefit from a service dog, this bill will help facilitate more

04:24veterans receiving service dogs, and VA will assist with the expenses through veterinary insurance.

04:31The bond between a veteran and his or her dog can be very special. I am glad to support this

04:39legislation to ensure VA can help more veterans who need them have access to service dogs, and I yield back.

04:46The gentleman yields back. Does anyone else seek recognition to make comments on H.R. 2605?

04:54Mr. Representative. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support my very understated colleague to my right,

05:01dogs are indeed life-changing. You cannot overstate it. This is something, this is a result, this is what

05:07we ought to be about, producing results and not simply inputs to our veterans. Thank you and I support it.

05:14Any others? I now recognize myself for purposes of offering amendment to the amendment nature of

05:20substitute for H.R. 2605. The clerk shall report the amendment.

05:24Bossed Amendment number one. I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment is dispensed with,

05:29and without objection, so ordered. I now recognize myself to explain the amendment.

05:34My amendment to the SAVES Act would increase access to veterans to service dogs while also

05:41establishing a standard that providers must meet. The amendment would require that service dog

05:48providers demonstrate that they train their dogs in compliance with the American for Disabilities Act.

05:54With Disabilities Act. This would ensure that there is a standard but does not limit providers to

06:00only those who have time to and resources to seek accreditation. In my own district, we have an

06:07organization called Disabled Vet, not Disabled Veteran but Disabled Vet. They are well known in our community

06:18and trusted to provide service dogs to veterans, but their program is very different from the type of

06:25program accredited by the Assistant Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation. As such, I recognize

06:33that not all providers that are best for veterans are going to fall under the same category. For that

06:39reason, I offer the amendment to Representative Luttrell's good bill. Does any other member wish to comment

06:46on the amendment in the amendment in the nature of a substitute? Seeing none. Hearing none. The question

06:52now occurs on agreeing to the amendment in the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2605. All those in

06:58favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say no. And the ayes have it. And the amendment to the

07:07amendment in the nature of a substitute is agreed to. Mr. Chairman. The motion to reconsider is laid

07:13on the table. Are there any further amendments in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2605? Hearing none.

07:24The question now occurs on agreeing to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2605 as amended.

07:30All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, say no. And the opinion of the chair. The ayes have it. The

07:38amendment in the nature of a substitute is agreed to. The motion to reconsider is laid on the table. I now...

07:46You have a question? Mr. Chairman, I'd just like to make a quick statement for about five seconds if that's okay. This is actually,

07:51and I think this needs to be said out loud because the V.A. actually came to my office about the SAVES Act

07:57and spoke with me directly and voiced their concerns, which I greatly appreciated. And then

08:01working across the aisle with Morgan McGarvey and then with leadership, this actually came together as

08:06it was supposed to come together. And I think moving forward with the veteran organizations that are

08:10supplying these animals with their input, I think we have a great starting point with this legislation.

08:15Thank you. I yield back. I now recognize the ranking member Takano for a motion.

08:22Mr. Chairman, I move that H.R. 2605 as amended be reported favorably to the House. The question is

08:29on favorably reporting the bill H.R. 2605 as amended to the full House. All those in favor, say aye. Aye.

08:36Aye. Opposed, no. And the opinion of the chair. The ayes have it. The motion is agreed to. And H.R. 2605 as amended is

08:43reported favorably reported to the House. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Rule 11, Clause 2,

08:50I give notice of intent to file minority supplemental additional or dissenting views

08:55on H.R. 2605 as amended. And I congratulate my colleague, Mr. Luttrell.

09:01The motion to reconsider. Hold on. Without objection. Without objection. Now the motion to reconsider.

09:12Lay it on the table. There we go.

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