Yes, puppies and veterans can paper over the partisan divides in the U.S. Congress.

The Senate last week took a break from debating the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and passed legislation by voice vote to teach military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder how to train service dogs to help them, and then to have them adopt the animals. The House approved the measure in May.

The bill calls for a five-year pilot program under the Department of Veterans Affairs.

With Senate passage, the legislation now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature.

“Experts agree that service dogs are one of the best mental health treatments to help bring relief, solace, and recovery for our veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress,” said Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., a Navy veteran and a bill co-sponsor.

”After dedicating so much to the nation, our veterans deserve the best care available and this program will help deliver it. It’s my hope the president signs it as soon as possible.”

Like the infrastructure legislation, this bill marked a rare moment of comity in a chamber increasing divided along party lines.The two parties were at odds over most issues, including independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection by supporters of Donald Trump and the $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus law that sent $1,400 checks to most Americans and increased the Child Tax Credit.

More than 300 House members co-sponsored the veterans bill, some of them convinced to sign on by Sherrill, who used a card featuring a picture of a Golden Retriever puppy to make her case.

The legislation, H.R.1448, is known as the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him at @JDSalant.

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