House approves $5M for equine-assisted therapy to aid veterans

1124
Montana Horses by Ley Bouchard

House approves $5M for equine-assisted therapy to aid veterans

July 27, 2017 – Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the defense appropriations bill that would increase funding for the Veterans Affairs’ Adaptive Sports Grant Program for equine-assisted therapy. The amendment increases funding by $5 million for fiscal year 2018.

The funding will enable an expansion of services that use equine-assisted therapy to help veterans receive mental health care treatment.

The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud the House passage of Amendment #47 of H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., introduced the amendment.

“We applaud Rep. Barr for his commitment to helping secure funds that will help equines and veterans,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “There have been a series of legislative and regulatory attacks on horses this year, and we hope that is the first in a series of positive actions to turn that around and honor the bond between people and equines.”