Senators Franken (D-Minn) and Isakson (R-GA) push their Service Dogs for Veterans Act in Congress

August 3, 8:08 PMAtlanta Political Buzz ExaminerEwa Kochanska

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The controversial Democrat, Al Franken, who only recently was able to take his seat in the Senate after a long battle with Republican Norm Coleman, sought out the help of Coleman’s long time friend, Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson to co-sponsor the Service Dogs for Veteran Act (S. 1495), legislation providing for a pilot program of paring service dogs with disabled veterans.

The very popular bill was added to the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. Other co-sponsors include Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-L.A.), Sen. Mark Begich (D-A.K.), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-O.H.), and Sen. John Ensign (R-N.V.).  This will be a first bill for Senator Al Franken.

The main points of Franken-Isakson legislation:

· Pair a minimum of 200 veterans and dogs, or the minimum number necessary to produce scientifically valid results on the benefits of the use of the dogs (whichever is greater).

· Ensure that fifty percent of veterans participating in the pilot program will be those who suffer primarily from mental health disabilities, and fifty percent those who suffer primarily from physical injuries or disabilities.

· Direct the VA to partner exclusively with non-profit agencies who do not charge for their animals, services, or lodging.

· Require the VA to provide seed money to pay for the first fifty service dogs, and match its non-profit partners' contributions for the rest of the service dogs.

· Continue the pilot program for at least three years; the Secretary of the VA must make annual reports to Congress on its implementation; the National Academies of Science is directed to study and report on the program's effectiveness at the end of three years.

· The scientific study of the pilot program will study both the therapeutic benefits to veterans, including quality of life benefits reported by the veterans; and the economic benefits of using service dogs, including savings on health care costs, such as reduced hospitalization and prescription drug use, and productivity and employment gains for the veterans.

Senate approved the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, along with the attached Service Dogs For Veterans Act, on July 24.

“I have seen firsthand the therapeutic effects of service dogs assisting individuals,” said Sen. Isakson. “The potential they bring for the therapy and treatment of soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries should be studied.”

Source 

For more information about related legislation read Saxby sees silver lining for Georgia on defense spending and Georgia's share of the 2010 defense budget by Atlanta Public Policy Examiner

For more information about the National Defense Authorization Act and the Military and Overseas Voter's Empowerment Act click here