SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Puppies Assisting 
Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act’’ or 
the ‘‘PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) According to the analyses of veteran suicide 
published by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 
August 2016 and titled ‘‘Suicide Among Veterans 
and Other Americans’’, and in June 2018, titled 
‘‘VA National Suicide Date Report’’— 
(A) an average of 20 veterans died by sui-
cide each day in 2014; 
(B) mental health disorders, including 
major depression and other mood disorders, 
have been associated with increased risk for sui-
cide; 
(C) since 2001, the proportion of users of 
the Veterans Health Administration with men-
tal health conditions or substance use disorders 
has increased from approximately 27 percent in 
2001 to more than 40 percent in 2014; and 
(D) overall, suicide rates are highest 
among patients with mental health and sub-
stance use disorder diagnoses who are in treat-
ment and lower among those who received a
mental health diagnosis but were not at risk 
enough to require enhanced care from a mental 
health provider. 
(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs must 
be more effective in its approach to reducing the 
burden of veteran suicide connected to mental health 
disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder 
(in this section referred to as ‘‘PTSD’’), and new, 
rigorous scientific research provides persuasive 
weight to the growing anecdotal evidence that serv-
ice dogs ameliorate the symptoms associated with 
PTSD, and in particular, help prevent veteran sui-
cide. 
(3) Several organizations have proven track 
records of training service dogs for veterans with se-
vere PTSD and dramatically improving those vet-
erans’ quality of life, ability to re-enter society, and, 
most importantly, their chances of survival. 
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PRO-
GRAM ON DOG TRAINING THERAPY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 120 
days after the date of the enactment of the Act, subject 
to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program under which 
the Secretary shall make grants to one or more appro-
priate non-government entities for the purpose of assess-
ing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental 
health and post-traumatic stress disorder (in this section 
referred to as ‘‘PTSD’’) symptoms through a therapeutic 
medium of training service dogs for veterans with disabil-
ities. 
(b) DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.—The pilot pro-
gram required by subsection (a) shall be carried out dur-
ing the 5-year period beginning on the date of the com-
mencement of the pilot program. 
(c) CONDITIONS ON RECEIPT OF GRANTS.—As a con-
dition of receiving a grant under this section, a non-gov-
ernment entity shall— 
(1) submit to the Secretary certification that 
the entity is an organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
that— 
(A) provides service dogs to veterans with 
PTSD; and 
(B) is accredited by, or adheres to stand-
ards comparable to those of, an accrediting or-
ganization with demonstrated experience, na-
tional scope, and recognized leadership and ex-
pertise in the training of service dogs and edu-
cation in the use of service dogs;
(2) agree to cover all costs in excess of the 
grant amount; 
(3) agree to reaccept or replace the service dog 
the organization provided to the veteran, if nec-
essary, as determined by the organization and the 
veteran; 
(4) provide a wellness certification from a li-
censed veterinarian for any dog participating in the 
program; 
(5) employ at least one person with clinical ex-
perience related to mental health; 
(6) ensure that veterans participating in the 
pilot program receive training from certified service 
dog training instructors for a period of time deter-
mined appropriate by the organization and the Sec-
retary, including service skills to address or alleviate 
symptoms unique to veterans’ needs; 
(7) agree to provide both lectures on service dog 
training methodologies and practical hands-on train-
ing and grooming of service dogs; 
(8) agree that in hiring service dog training in-
structors to carry out training under the pilot pro-
gram, the non-government entity will give a pref-
erence to veterans who have successfully graduated 
from PTSD or other residential treatment program
and who have received adequate certification in serv-
ice dog training; 
(9) agree not to use shock collars or prong col-
lars as training tools and to use positive reinforce-
ment training; 
(10) agree that upon the conclusion of training 
provided using the grant funds— 
(A) the veteran who received the training 
will keep the dog unless the veteran and the 
veteran’s health provider decide it is not in the 
best interest of the veteran; 
(B) if the veteran does not opt to own the 
dog, the entity will be responsible for caring for 
and appropriately placing the dog; 
(C) the Department of Veterans Affairs 
will have no additional responsibility to provide 
for any benefits under this section; and 
(D) the Department of Veterans Affairs 
will have no liability with respect to the dog; 
(11) provide follow-up support service for the 
life of the dog, including a contact plan between the 
veteran and the entity to allow the veteran to reach 
out for and receive adequate help with the service 
dog and the organization to communicate with the
veteran to ensure the service dog is being properly 
cared for; and 
(12) submit to the Secretary an application 
containing such information, certification, and assur-
ances as the Secretary may require. 
(d) VETERAN ELIGIBILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of this sec-
tion, an eligible veteran is a veteran who— 
(A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment 
system in the Department of Veterans Affairs 
under section 1705 of title 38, United States 
Code; 
(B) has been recommended for the pilot 
program under this section by a qualified health 
care provider or clinical team based on the med-
ical judgment that the veteran may potentially 
benefit from participating; and 
(C) agrees to successfully complete train-
ing provided by an eligible organization that re-
ceives a grant under this section. 
(2) 
RELATIONSHIP
TO
PARTICIPATION
IN 
OTHER PROGRAM.—Veterans may participate in the 
pilot program in conjunction with the compensated 
work therapy program of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs.
(3) CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT.— 
To remain eligible to participate in the program, a 
veteran shall see the health care provider or clinical 
team of the Department of Veterans Affairs treating 
the veteran for PTSD at least once every 6 months 
to determine, based on a clinical evaluation of effi-
cacy, whether the veteran continues to benefit from 
the program. 
(e) COLLECTION OF DATA.—In carrying out this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall— 
(1) develop metrics and other appropriate 
means to measure, with respect to veterans partici-
pation in the program, the improvement in psycho-
social function and therapeutic compliance of such 
veterans and changes with respect to the dependence 
on prescription narcotics and psychotropic medica-
tion of such veterans; 
(2) establish processes to document and track 
the progress of such veterans under the program in 
terms of the benefits and improvements noted as a 
result of the program; and 
(3) in addition, the Secretary shall continue to 
collect these data over the course of 5 years for each 
veteran who has continued with the dog he or she 
has personally trained.
(f) GAO BRIEFING AND STUDY.— 
(1) BRIEFING.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the commencement of the pilot program 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall provide to the Committees on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate a briefing on the methodology estab-
lished for the program. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date on which the program terminates, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to the committees 
specified in paragraph (1) a report on the program. 
Such report shall include an evaluation of the ap-
proach and methodology used for the program with 
respect to— 
(A) helping veterans with severe PTSD re-
turn to civilian life; 
(B) relevant metrics, including reduction in 
metrics such as reduction in scores under the 
PTSD check-list (PCL–5), improvement in psy-
chosocial function, and therapeutic compliance; 
and 
(C) reducing the dependence of partici-
pants on prescription narcotics and psycho-
tropic medication.
(g) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, 
the term ‘‘service dog training instructor’’ means an in-
structor who provides the direct training of veterans with 
PTSD and other post-deployment issues in the art and 
science of service dog training and handling. 
Passed the House of Representatives February 5, 
2020. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4305 
AN ACT 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry 
out a pilot program on dog training therapy.