“Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps Act” Introduced in Congress Yesterday

Posted on | July 21, 2009 | 1 Comment

I mentioned this one last week.  The bill, H.R. 3266, is cosponsored by Rep. Ron Klein, D-FL, and Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-KY, and was introduced on the floor yesterday by Rep. Klein.

Here’s the entire text for your review:

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HR 3266 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3266

To establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 20, 2009

Mr. KLEIN of Florida (for himself and Mr. WHITFIELD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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A BILL

To establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. WOUNDED WARRIOR K-9 CORPS.

(a) Grants Authorized- Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly establish a program, to be known as the `Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps’, to award competitive grants to nonprofit organizations to assist such organizations in planning, designing, establishing, and operating programs to provide assistance dogs to covered members and veterans.

(b) Use of Funds-

• (1) IN GENERAL- The recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant to carry out programs that provide assistance dogs to covered members and veterans who have a disability described in paragraph (2).

• (2) DISABILITY- A disability described in this paragraph is any of the following:

• • (A) Blindness or visual impairment.

• • (B) Loss of use of a limb, paralysis, or other significant mobility issues.

• • (C) Loss of hearing.

• • (D) Traumatic brain injury.

• • (E) Post-traumatic stress disorder.

• • (F) Any other disability that the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs consider appropriate.

(c) Eligibility- To be eligible to receive a grant under this title, a nonprofit organization shall submit an application to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may require. Such application shall include–

• (1) a proposal for the evaluation required by subsection (d); and

• (2) a description of–

• • (A) the training that will be provided by the organization to covered members and veterans;

• • (B) the training of dogs that will serve as assistance dogs;

• • (C) the aftercare services that the organization will provide for such dogs and covered members and veterans;

• • (D) the plan for publicizing the availability of such dogs through a targeted marketing campaign to covered members and veterans;

• • (E) the recognized expertise of the organization in breeding and training such dogs;

• • (F) the commitment of the organization to comparable standards as that of the International Guide Dog Federation or Assistance Dogs International;

• • (G) the commitment of the organization to humane standards for animals; and

• • (H) the experience of the organization with working with military medical treatment facilities or medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(d) Evaluation- The Secretary shall require each recipient of a grant to use a portion of the funds made available through the grant to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out through the grant by such recipient.

(e) Definitions- In this Act:

• (1) The term `assistance dog’ means a dog specifically trained to perform physical tasks to mitigate the effects of a disability described in subsection (b)(2), except that the term does not include a dog specifically trained for comfort or personal defense.

• (2) The term `covered members and veterans’ means–

• • (A) with respect to a member of the Armed Forces, such member who is–

• • • (i) receiving medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code;

• • • (ii) in medical hold or medical holdover status; or

• • • (iii) covered under section 1202 or 1205 of title 10, United States Code; and

• • (B) with respect to a veteran, a veteran who is enrolled in the health care system established under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.

(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

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http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3266:

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