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HR 1448 117th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Animal protection and human-animal relationships Congressional oversight Disability assistance Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Health programs administration and funding Mammals Mental health Neurological disorders Service animals Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation Veterans' medical care

PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act

Introduced: March 1, 2021 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 26 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 25, 2021
Became Public Law No: 117-37.
Aug 25, 2021
Signed by President.
Aug 20, 2021
Presented to President.
Aug 9, 2021
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Aug 6, 2021
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Aug 6, 2021
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Aug 6, 2021
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5990)
Aug 6, 2021
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5990)
May 13, 2021
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
May 12, 2021
Pursuant to section 6 of H. Res. 380, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 297; H.R. 433; H.R. 478; H.R. 586; H.R. 721, as amended; H.R. 768; H.R. 810; H.R. 1205; H.R. 1260, as amended; H.R. 1324; H.R. 1448, as amended; H.R. 1475, as amended; H.R. 1480, as amended; H.R. 2862, as amended; H.R. 2955; and H.R. 2981. (consideration: CR H2235-2246; text: CR H2240)
May 12, 2021
Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 6 of H. Res. 380, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 297; H.R. 433; H.R. 478; H.R. 586; H.R. 721, as amended; H.R. 768; H.R. 810; H.R. 1205; H.R. 1260, as amended; H.R. 1324; H.R. 1448, as amended; H.R. 1475, as amended; H.R. 1480, as amended; H.R. 2862, as amended; H.R. 2955; and H.R. 2981.(consideration: CR H2235-2246; text: CR H2240)
May 12, 2021
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 380, proceedings on H.R. 1448 are considered vacated.
May 12, 2021
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
May 12, 2021
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1448.
May 12, 2021
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2212-2215)
May 12, 2021
Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 12, 2021
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 16.
May 12, 2021
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 117-31.
May 4, 2021
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
May 4, 2021
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 4, 2021
Subcommittee on Health Discharged.
Apr 15, 2021
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 14, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 18, 2021
Motion to place bill on Consensus Calendar filed by Mr. Stivers.
Mar 1, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 1, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act or the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act

This bill implements a program and a policy related to service dog therapy for veterans. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a five-year pilot program to provide canine training to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as an element of a complementary and integrative health program. Eligible veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have been recommended for participation by a qualified mental health care provider or clinical team.

The VA must seek to enter agreements containing specified elements with accredited nongovernmental entities that have demonstrated ability to provide canine training.

Veterans who participate in the program are authorized to adopt the dog they assisted in training if their health provider determines it is in the best interest of the veteran.

The VA must establish processes to document and track the progress of participating veterans with respect to health benefits and improvements.

The Government Accountability Office must brief Congress and submit a report on the program.

The bill also authorizes the VA to provide service dogs to veterans with mental illnesses, regardless of whether they have a mobility impairment.

What's happening now August 25, 2021

Became Public Law No: 117-37.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 613 Related bill PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
  • HRES 380 Related bill Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2547) to expand and enhance consumer, student, servicemember, and small b…
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 278
All 278 Democratic 79 Republican 133
D
Casten, Sean
Illinois · May 12, 2021
Lawson, Al
· May 11, 2021
 R
Mann, Tracey
Kansas · May 11, 2021
 D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · May 4, 2021
 D
Foster, Bill
Illinois · Apr 15, 2021
Jacobs, Chris
· Apr 15, 2021
 D
Schneider, Bradley Scott
Illinois · Apr 15, 2021
 D
Williams, Nikema
Georgia · Apr 15, 2021
 R
Cammack, Kat
Florida · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Mar 26, 2021
 R
Fischbach, Michelle
Minnesota · Mar 26, 2021
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Jacobs, Sara
California · Mar 26, 2021
 R
Jordan, Jim
Ohio · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Lee, Susie
Nevada · Mar 26, 2021
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Mar 26, 2021
Luria, Elaine
· Mar 26, 2021
 R
Spartz, Victoria
Indiana · Mar 26, 2021
 D
Adams, Alma S.
North Carolina · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Mar 18, 2021
 D
Correa, J. Luis
California · Mar 18, 2021
 D
Cuellar, Henry
Texas · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Feenstra, Randy
Iowa · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Issa, Darrell
California · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Jackson, Ronny
Texas · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Kim, Young
California · Mar 18, 2021
Malinowski, Tom
· Mar 18, 2021
Meijer, Peter
· Mar 18, 2021
 R
Moore, Blake D.
Utah · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Nehls, Troy E.
Texas · Mar 18, 2021
 D
Norcross, Donald
New Jersey · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Obernolte, Jay
California · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Owens, Burgess
Utah · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Pfluger, August
Texas · Mar 18, 2021
 D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Mar 18, 2021
 D
Ross, Deborah K.
North Carolina · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Salazar, Maria Elvira
Florida · Mar 18, 2021
 D
Sherman, Brad
California · Mar 18, 2021
Steel, Michelle
· Mar 18, 2021
 D
Stevens, Haley M.
Michigan · Mar 18, 2021
 D
Tlaib, Rashida
Michigan · Mar 18, 2021
 D
Torres, Ritchie
New York · Mar 18, 2021
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Mar 17, 2021
 D
Aguilar, Pete
California · Mar 17, 2021
 R
Bentz, Cliff
Oregon · Mar 17, 2021
 D
Blunt Rochester, Lisa
Delaware · Mar 17, 2021
 D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · Mar 17, 2021
 R
Bost, Mike
Illinois · Mar 17, 2021
Brooks, Mo
· Mar 17, 2021
Bustos, Cheri
· Mar 17, 2021
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1448/
MLA
"H.R. 1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1448/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1448, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1448/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1448/)
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