WASHINGTON, DC (June 8, 2018)—Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5895, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act; 2018 that 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.
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.”
Media Contact: Kirsten Peek: kpeek@hslf.org; 301.548.7793
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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.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.
