The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Legislative News
July 31, 2009
For all BVA members and key contacts, the past two weeks in the middle of everything else that congress is in the news about regarding health care, there were two slightly different pieces of legislation introduced that is of great interest to Blinded Veterans Association. BVA has been involved for some 60 years with issue of Guide Dogs and has worked with congress and Department of Veterans Affairs on policy regarding these blind guide dogs. But, these two bills not only include Guide Dogs, but all other types of service dogs trained for TBI, neurological disorders, and opens up new implications for the Secretary of VA.
Thought that everyone should know, because this for sure will be added to things on the pile to deal with in September when congress comes back to session.
H.R.3266
Title: To establish a grant program to encourage the use of assistance dogs by certain members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
Sponsor:
Rep Klein, Ron
[FL-22] (introduced 7/20/2009)
Cosponsors
(8)
Latest Major Action: 7/24/2009
Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic
----
ALL ACTIONS:
7/20/2009:
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.
7/20/2009:
Referred to House Armed Services
7/20/2009:
Referred to House Veterans' Affairs
7/24/2009:
Referred to the Subcommittee on
Economic
COSPONSORS(8), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr.
[SC-1] - 7/24/2009
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy
[MO-1] - 7/29/2009
Rep Filner, Bob
[CA-51] - 7/29/2009
Rep Hall, John J.
[NY-19] - 7/29/2009
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C.
[MI-13] - 7/24/2009
Rep McNerney, Jerry
[CA-11] - 7/29/2009
Rep Whitfield, Ed
[KY-1] - 7/20/2009
Rep Young, C.W. Bill
[FL-10] - 7/29/2009
SENATE VERSION OF SERVICE DOG LEGISATION BELOW:
S.1495
Title: A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor:
Sen Franken, Al
[MN] (introduced 7/22/2009)
Cosponsors
(6)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
COSPONSORS(6), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Sen Begich, Mark
[AK] - 7/22/2009
Sen Brown, Sherrod
[OH] - 7/22/2009
Sen Ensign, John
[NV] - 7/23/2009
Sen Graham, Lindsey
[SC] - 7/22/2009
Sen Isakson, Johnny
[GA] - 7/22/2009
Sen Landrieu, Mary L.
[LA] - 7/22/2009
Please note that the four of the senate members, are members of the Senate VA Committee that are on this legislation as co-sponsors giving it more influence in that committee for sure. The house bill provides up to $ 5,000,000 for the provision of grants to the service dog schools, while the senate version is different and would pay for the first fifty dogs directly for veterans.
Because these bills were introduced so late in this month, nothing will happen until September on them and even then it is doubtful that hearing can be scheduled on them. BVA has requested though that we be invited to participate in any hearings on the issues.
Tom Zampieri
Director Government Relations
Blinded Veterans Association
BVA's Legislative Alerts Group
End of Document