A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on service dog training therapy, and for other purposes.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 9, 2011

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to commence a three-year pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using service dog training activities as components of integrated post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rehabilitation programs at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers to positively affect veterans with such symptoms and to produce specially trained service dogs for veterans. Requires the pilot program to be carried out at one VA medical center selected by the Secretary other than the VA health care system in Palo Alto, California. Makes veteran participation voluntary. Requires the Secretary to: (1) collect program data to determine its effectiveness, as well as the advisability of expanding the program to additional VA medical centers; and (2) report annually to Congress for the duration of the pilot program.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

6 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 27, 2012
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-668.
Nov 9, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7302)
Nov 9, 2011
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Nov 9, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1838 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1838, 112th Congress: A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on service dog training therapy, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1838

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-11-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1838/BILLS-112s1838is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:20:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1838 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1838 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1838, 112th Congress: A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on service dog training therapy, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1838

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-11-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1838/BILLS-112s1838is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:20:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1838 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1838 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1838, 112th Congress: A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on service dog training therapy, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1838

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-11-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1838/BILLS-112s1838is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:20:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1838 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1838 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1838, 112th Congress: A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on service dog training therapy, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1838

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-11-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1838/BILLS-112s1838is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:20:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1838 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.