Franken's First Bill: Service Dogs For Vets

Freshman Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced his first legislative initiative on Monday -- a bill to provide service dogs to wounded veterans.

Franken wrote an op-ed in the Star Tribune on Saturday describing how an encounter with an Iraq veteran and his service dog, Tuesday, inspired the bill.

Service dogs are of "immense benefit to vets suffering from physical and emotional wounds," the newly-seated senator said, and they could even "reduce the alarming suicide rate among veterans."

Franken wrote that it costs about "$20,000 to train a service dog and another $5,000 to place the dog with the veteran." The bill he proposes would make that price more affordable for veterans themselves.

"Frankly, I believe it is enough simply to improve the lives of those of whom we asked so much," he explained. "But this program isn't just the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do. This is win, win, win, win."

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[army eunuch]

12:30 PM on 07/28/2009

How about something useful like getting with Senator Guilabrand to end DADT?

[nancyEgertner]

10:23 AM on 07/21/2009

Woof! From Minnesota. It's good to have two voices in the U.S. Senate now, and another friend that is not trying to push veterans over that cliff called suicide so the VA can reduce the rolls of the disabled veterans collecting compensation.

Yes indeed, every veteran with a ten percent disability that is removed from the disabled list saves the VA over one hundred dollars per month.

So it's good to know one U.S. Senator thinks an investment of $25K to train a companion dog for one veteran is a Win! Win Win! Win!

Now let's watch and see who signs on as co-sponsors.
www.Thomas.gov still does not have a bill number, but it's easy to find a Senator's bill using their name as the search criteria.
Have you asked your senator to so-sponsor this bill?

I can't wait to see the Poster Dog.

[Cambridge9]

08:29 AM on 07/29/2009

Is'nt it nice to have a new Senator who actually has good ideas? Congratulations to you all in Minnesota!

[Collielady]

09:20 AM on 07/21/2009

The perfect bill! Watch the righties argue against this one, particularly the draft dodgers.

[Jamie Kowalski]

09:11 AM on 07/21/2009

It's great to see all the positive comments on Franken after this, especially after all the trolls bashing him as a "clown" in every other thread that even mentions him. In a few years, few will even be mentioning his "former comedic career."

[Centient]

08:38 AM on 07/21/2009

Sen. Franken's homage to Wellstone continues. It's not often said about him, but Sen. Wellstone was a tremendous advocate for service member's and their families. As someone whose family benefited from Sen. Wellstone's personal intervention in an important dispute with the VA, I'm very pleased by Sen. Franken's first legislative effort. I like Sen. Franken's trajectory. Keep up the good work.

[ramblingjohnny]

07:53 AM on 07/21/2009

Great first bill I guess he had the time to think about it right!

[blaharumph]

07:42 AM on 07/21/2009

proposing a tangable step that will greatly increase the life of someone who served the country...
hooray al!

[Mum]

03:32 AM on 07/21/2009

After having read his books and listened to his show on Air America, I knew that Al Franken would make a good legislator. What an amazing first step! Bravo, Senator Franken!

[sarabono]

03:06 AM on 07/21/2009

Now that is a GOOD idea. The best idea I have heard out of this Congress since January 22nd!

[eseventyone]

02:23 AM on 07/21/2009

Senator Franken this is an awesome bill. Its good enough, its smart enough and doggone it I think the people will like it!

The Repukeblicans better support this!

[inEugene]

01:34 AM on 07/21/2009

Glen Beck might say, These great warriors can't pay for their medical bills and put food on their tables and Al Franken wants to burden those brave vets with a dog to pick up after and feed! Really! What is that clown thinking?

Great work Al.

[pk4obama]

01:28 AM on 07/21/2009

Such a great idea!!!!! Bet the Repubs will say NO and then be sorry they didn't think of it. I hope this passes - it's time we did something for the veterans!!!! Good going Al! Behind you 100% on this one....

[jadeba]

01:18 AM on 07/21/2009

Great work, Sen. Franken!

[aznurse]

01:17 AM on 07/21/2009

How dare he have empathy for the plight of others!!

[ElodieStClair]

12:59 AM on 07/21/2009

This guy's gonna be a great Senator.