text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 
  2009''.
  
  SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON USE OF SERVICE DOGS FOR THE TREATMENT OR 
                REHABILITATION OF VETERANS WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL 
                INJURIES OR DISABILITIES.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) The United States owes a profound debt to those who 
          have served the United States honorably in the Armed Forces.
              (2) Disabled veterans suffer from a range of physical and 
          mental injuries and disabilities.
              (3) In 2008, the Army reported the highest level of 
          suicides among its soldiers since it began tracking the rate 28 
          years before 2009.
              (4) A scientific study documented in the 2008 Rand Report 
          entitled ``Invisible Wounds of War'' estimated that 300,000 
          veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
          Freedom currently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
              (5) Veterans have benefitted in multiple ways from the 
          provision of service dogs.
              (6) The Department of Veterans Affairs has been 
          successfully placing guide dogs with the blind since 1961.
              (7) Thousands of dogs around the country await adoption.
      (b) Program Required.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
  the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
  commence a three-year pilot program to assess the benefits, 
  feasibility, and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment 
  or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or 
  disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
      (c) Partnerships.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
          program by partnering with nonprofit organizations that--
                      (A) have experience providing service dogs to 
                  individuals with injuries or disabilities;
                      (B) do not charge fees for the dogs, services, or 
                  lodging that they provide; and
                      (C) are accredited by a generally accepted 
                  industry-standard accrediting institution.
              (2) Reimbursement of costs.--The Secretary shall reimburse 
          partners for costs relating to the pilot program as follows:
                      (A) For the first 50 dogs provided under the pilot 
                  program, all costs relating to the provision of such 
                  dogs.
                      (B) For dogs provided under the pilot program after 
                  the first 50 dogs provided, all costs relating to the 
                  provision of every other dog.
      (d) Participation.--
              (1) In general.--As part of the pilot program, the 
          Secretary shall provide a service dog to a number of veterans 
          with physical or mental injuries or disabilities that is 
          greater than or equal to the greater of--
                      (A) 200; and
                      (B) the minimum number of such veterans required to 
                  produce scientifically valid results with respect to 
                  assessing the benefits and costs of the use of such 
                  dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of such 
                  veterans.
              (2) Composition.--The Secretary shall ensure that--
                      (A) half of the participants in the pilot program 
                  are veterans who suffer primarily from a mental health 
                  injury or disability; and
                      (B) half of the participants in the pilot program 
                  are veterans who suffer primarily from a physical 
                  injury or disability.
      (e) Study.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall 
  conduct a scientifically valid research study of the costs and benefits 
  associated with the use of service dogs for the treatment or 
  rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or 
  disabilities. The matters studied shall include the following:
              (1) The therapeutic benefits to such veterans, including 
          the quality of life benefits reported by the veterans partaking 
          in the pilot program.
              (2) The economic benefits of using service dogs for the 
          treatment or rehabilitation of such veterans, including--
                      (A) savings on health care costs, including savings 
                  relating to reductions in hospitalization and 
                  reductions in the use of prescription drugs; and
                      (B) productivity and employment gains for the 
                  veterans.
              (3) The effectiveness of using service dogs to prevent 
          suicide.
      (f) Reports.--
              (1) Annual report of the secretary.--After each year of the 
          pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
          on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the pilot 
          program.
              (2) Final report by the national academy of sciences.--Not 
          later than 180 days after the date of the completion of the 
          pilot program, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to 
          Congress a report on the results of the pilot program.
target: Service Dogs for Veterans Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to commence a three-year pilot program to assess the benefits, feasibility, and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Requires related reports to Congress.
feat_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.