Murray, Franken Introduce Resolution Recognizing Veterans’ Service Animals

Chris Goehner, a veteran and intern in Senator Murray’s office, walks the bill over to be introduced with his service dog, Pele.

(Washington,
D.C.) –Today, on the 20^th anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act being signed into law, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and
Al Franken (D-MN) introduced a Senate Resolution recognizing the significance
of service animals for veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war. The
bill was walked down to be introduced by Chris Goehner, a veteran from
Cashmere, WA who is interning in Senator Murray’s office and assisted with
the drafting of the legislation, as well as his service dog Pele.

“As
more and more veterans come home suffering from the invisible wounds of war, we
owe it to them to make sure they have the resources they need to reintegrate
into the civilian world after their brave service” said Senator Patty Murray.
“I have seen first-hand the benefits service animals provide to our veterans.
And I was proud to introduce this Resolution with Senator Franken to recognize
their significance for veterans with invisible wounds.”

“The
first piece of legislation I introduced in the Senate was a bill to expand VA’s
provision of service dogs to veterans with disabilities, so I’m very pleased to
join Senator Murray in pushing the cause forward,” said Senator Al Franken.
“There are many veterans with invisible wounds who want and would benefit from
having a service animal. We owe it to them to make that a reality.”

The
full text of the Resolution follows:

Recognizing
the significance of service animals for veterans with invisible wounds.

IN
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mrs.
MURRAY and Mr. FRANKEN submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on

RESOLUTION

Recognizing
the significance of service animals for veterans with invisible wounds.

Whereas,
as of July 2010, there are more than 70,000 disabled veterans from ongoing
military conflicts, and more than 400,000 disabled veterans from all military
conflicts in the United States;

Whereas
service animals are being placed with veterans for the invisible wounds
incurred by those veterans in combat operations;

Whereas
invisible wounds include post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain
injuries;

Whereas
the Department of Veterans Affairs has funding for the placement of service
animals with veterans;

Whereas
veterans with service animals are entitled to the protections provided under
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1900 (42 U.S. C. 12101 et seq.) that
relate to access to the workplace, public events, restaurants, housing and
other places, mitigating the isolation veterans with invisible wounds may have
experienced due to the symptoms of their invisible wounds;

Whereas
service animals are making it possible for veterans with invisible wounds to
return to the work place and institutions of higher education, and assisting in
their reintegration of veterans into society after selflessly serving the
United States;

Whereas
veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder make a bold stand by asking for
help;

Whereas
services animal have proven effective to prevent isolation, substance abuse, and
suicidal thoughts and assist veterans to function normally in social settings;
and

Whereas
the United States has a responsibility to provide assistance and create
opportunities for the tens of thousands of in the United States who have been
wounded in military conflicts or have received service-connected disabilities:
Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,
That the Senate–

(1)  
recognizes
that service animals have an important role in the treatment of invisible
wounds;

(2) recognizes that veterans with
service animals are protected under the American with Disabilities Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.);

 (3) encourages organizations that
assist have programs to assist veterans with placement of service animals to
continue these programs to support veterans of the United States; and

(4) encourages the public to understand
the significance of service animals to veterans with invisible wounds and
afford them the same opportunities in accordance to the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990.