House Approves $5 Million for Equine-Assisted Therapy to Aid Veterans

Equine therapy for veterans
Equine therapy for veterans Shutterstock

Newsdate: June 14, 2018, 10:00 am
Location: WASHINGTON, DC

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 5895, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act; 2018that included an amendment to increase funding for the Veterans Affairs’ Adaptive Sports Grant Program for equine-assisted therapy. The amendment, introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) increases funding by $5 million for fiscal year 2019.

Equine therapy for veteran.

Equine therapy for veteran

Funding will expand the use of equine-assisted therapy in conjunction with mental health care treatment and services to veterans.
© 2012 by Shutterstock

The funding will enable an expansion of services that use equine-assisted therapy in conjunction with mental health care treatment and services to veterans.

“We applaud Congressman Barr for his continued commitment to securing resources that will help our heroic American veterans and equines,” said Marty Irby, senior adviser at the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We are grateful to see this convergence of good news and good programs to benefit both veterans and horses.”

The Humane Society of the United States is the most effective animal protection organization, as rated by our peers. For more than 60 years, we have celebrated the protection of all animals and confronted all forms of cruelty. We and our affiliates are the nation’s largest provider of hands-on services for animals, caring for more than 100,000 animals each year, and we prevent cruelty to millions more through our advocacy campaigns.

Read about our more than 60 years of transformational change for animals and people. HumaneSociety.org
The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

 

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EquiMed Staff

EquiMed staff writers team up to provide articles that require periodic updates based on evolving methods of equine healthcare. Compendia articles, core healthcare topics and more are written and updated as a group effort. Our review process includes an important veterinarian review, helping to assure the content is consistent with the latest understanding from a medical professional.

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