Veterans get connected with service dogs

A piece of legislation I led in the House that will help more veterans get connected with service dogs was just signed into law by President Biden, and yesterday I had the chance to join him at the White House as it officially was signed into law.

The PAWS Act will offer funding for nonprofits to continue the great work they have done running work-therapy programs for veterans, in which the veterans learn about training the dogs, and then have the option to adopt the dog.

I’ve had the chance to visit with veterans and their service dogs in the district, at places such as Blue Star Service Dogs, where it was clear to see what a difference these dogs can make in the lives of our veterans. If you’ve ever been around a service dog or even just had a dog as a pet — you probably can imagine just how impactful these pups can be.

Service dogs offer such a wide range of benefits to veterans. Research conducted by Kaiser Permanente and Purdue University has shown that working with service dogs alleviates the symptoms of PTSD, leading to better relationships, a lower risk of substance abuse, and overall better mental health.

Getting bipartisan legislation passed in Congress isn’t always easy. But I’m proud to say that the PAWS Act passed the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. When it comes to dogs and supporting our country’s veterans — working together to get this passed was just common sense.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin