(Sen. Al) Franken's service dogs bill approved by Congress

[sabra]

Source: pioneer press

Tardy to the Senate after an eight-month recount fight, Sen. Al Franken secured his first legislative win Thursday with the passage of a bill providing service dogs to veterans coping with the physical and psychological tolls of war.

Under the Service Dogs for Veterans Act, Veterans Affairs will provide about 200 service dogs to former service members. Half would go to people with mental disabilities and half to those dealing with physical ailments.

"I can't think of better folks to help than those who served our nation so honorably in the military," said Franken, who made several USO trips abroad as an entertainer. "It's a win-win-win all the way."

Franken proposed the legislation after visiting places like Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota, which has trained and provided nearly 300 dogs for needy owners since its founding in 1987.

Read more: http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_13622399

[napi21]

1. That's wonderful. Thanks Al. I never heard of a service dog

for the mentaly ill though? Is this just a comfort thing or something else?

[sabra]

2. PTSD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[rvablue]

5. Check this out. It'll make you cry:

This first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWs_WjIBZjI


Then watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdtqZ5JnFoM&feature=rela...

[tilsammans]

37. Wow . . .

. . . so many people are being helped by that program. Truly a win-win!

[Chemisse]

45. You are right - I am teary-eyed

That is a beautiful program.

[onehandle]

3. Senator Franken will be a legend in the Senate in little time. nt

[Paladin]

7. I Agree. He's On The Way To Being One Of The Great Ones.

What a shame that he has so little competition, from either party.......

[Auggie]

4. Thank you Senator

[roguevalley]

29. channeling his friend, Paul Wellstone. This is lovely.

[FSogol]

6. Keep up the good work, Sen Franken. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

9. A few of the many orgs. helping to train dogs for people.

http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org /

http://www.greatplainsdogs.com /

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AI...

[catrose]

36. Is Guide Dogs for the Blind still out there?

My nephew used to train dogs for them.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

44. Yep.

I mentioned the other ways that dogs are able to provide aid in response to a post the other day that basically said that only blind people should be able to have service dogs.

As a cat person, (although I like all animals since my Dad was a Veterinarian) I should mention that they also are used to assist humans.

http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210580/cats.htm

http://hospiceandnursinghomes.blogspot.com/2008/01/ther...

[Vidar]

10. Bravo, Al, Bravo!

[Guilded Lilly]

11. Genuine

to the core. Franken champions truth, plain facts and what is simply decent.

[Autonomy]

12. Al Franken did not show up for work for EIGHT MONTHS!

"Then, his first piece of legislation was for DOGS! Is this joker the kind of guy you want as your senator?"

Damn right. I wish he were my senator, instead of Tom "Turncoat" Carper. (The above quote is my own speculation about what his opponent in 2014 might say about him. lol)

[stopwastingmymoney]

14. nah

no use waiting until 2014, I'm guessing Hannity will be saying that tonight

[NewJeffCT]

18. Actually, his first piece of legislation was the bill to allow contractors to sue for rape

the one that 30 white male Republican senators opposed.

[Tx4obama]

27. Yes, Franken's FIRST important piece was the RAPE amendment

journalists don't seem to do their job very well anymore.

[Tx4obama]

28. Another Franken bill in the works...

Sen. Franken introduces bill for labeling household products
by Madeleine Baran, Minnesota Public Radio
September 23, 2009

St. Paul, Minn. — Sen. Al Franken introduced legislation on Wednesday that would require household cleaning products, like furniture polish and laundry detergent, to carry labels with a complete list of ingredients.

The Household Product Labeling Act, the second piece of legislation introduced by Franken, would expand existing labeling requirements.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/23... /

[wroberts189]

35. Damn this guy is exceeding my expectations... and they were already high. nt knr

[Autonomy]

31. IIRC this dog thing was his first

and the rape thing was 2nd, but whatever.

[pfitz59]

32. Actually his first piece was the Rape Amendment

Where rapists working for the US governemnt could actually be held accountable for their crimes!

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

39. I'll take him as a replacement for one of mine,...ASAP

EW!!! The buggar is proffering legislation beyond the circle of whores.

WOWIE!!!

[earcandle]

41. His first legislation bill that did NOT pass was about protecting women from rape at work.

Apparently. the military and its contractors are allowed to do
this.

I would not touch those industries (Mil) at all if I were a
woman.

I'd pull out fast, or find a safezone....You could be subject
to second class citizenship. You will not have protection from
rape in the military and or working with its contractors.  

Can you believe that?

Did you hear, did you know, will you allow such legislation
in America?   Who do we call?  What do we do?  This is an
outrage!  Where are your voices?

THIS IS Franken's SECOND BILL make no mistake!  
HIS FIRST BILL WAS REJECTED AND THEY PASSED THIS INSTEAD.
DO NOT BE rendered blind by the missing information here.   

"Hollow Inside" by the Buzzcocks on Ear Candle
Radio right now

Congrats on your first passing Bill, Senator.   Please don't
take it personal if I ask if Dogs are worth more than women
in America?  How dare they suggest this to us?  We are worth
more than that, and we should go on a general strike.  We
should organize first. A revival of NOW?  Hmmmmm.... Any
suggestions? 

[rasputin1952]

48. That bill will come up again....

Timing is everything in politics. There are discussions being made in hallways and offices...all of which will vilify those that voted against the amendment. Those that voted against the amendment are already being hounded...it ids merely a matter of time; I'd say at least half of them will be out when their election comes up and women and those of us men who supported it.

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

13. Keep up the good work, Al

[BrklynLiberal]

15. How many repukes voted against it?

[raouldukelives]

16. Like to know myself

Shocked they let this go without a fight.

[droidamus2]

17. What I like

What I like about Franken so far is number one he is well informed and knows his stuff and like Grayson isn't afraid to get in somebodies face to make a point. Even more is that Al hasn't gone for the sexy big ticket legislative wins but is actually picking things that help real people and that he can get passed. If the Democratic Senators kill his rape amendment I think they should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.

[DebbieCDC]

19. Way to go Sen. Franken

Love it!!

[Deep13]

20. I guess the pro-rape lobby had no objections.

Seriously, my father trained service dogs before he died in 1999.

Here's their website. http://www.neads.org/index.php

[Bitwit1234]

21. Franken is OK

At least we got one good senator...from our great state of Minnesota.

[frylock]

22. this guy gets shit done!

no wonder the pubs wanted to keep him out.

[ThatsMyBarack]

30. Well put, frylock!

Franken could have done more if they'd only let him be seated SOONER!

[Kajsa]

23. This is great news!

Thank you Senator Franken, for helping our
wounded soldiers!

[Sheltiemama]

24. Many hugs and wags for Al!

[spiderpig]

26. I'm still crying my eyes out.

And I just can't stand Oprah and her fake grandstanding. Blecch. But I guess it was worth it to see the pups and their humans connecting. (BTW - Oprah - just go away. I can't afford a new monitor. Glenn Close - you're cool.)

[Honeycombe8]

25. What a way to start a new, important career! Wow. He's somethin' special.

Really. I can't say I'm surprised, though.

[Nothing Without Hope]

33. Way to go, Al! You represent ALL of us, not just Minnesotans n/t

[wroberts189]

34. Something is telling me Franken is Wellstone's revenge. nt

[myrna minx]

38. I adore my new Senator. n/t

[winyanstaz]

40. Good news and good job Senator Franken!!!

I knew he would be a great Senator and he is already proving me right.
I just wish the Republican Senators that threw out Franken's bill to protect rape victims from corporations would get their asses kicked but good. Franken was right about that bill and he is right about this one too.

[earcandle]

42. Franken, congrats, but this is your SECOND BILL, The first one was about protecting women from rape

at work in the Defense Department.

Apparently. the military and its contractors are allowed to
do this.

I would not touch those industries (Mil) at all if I were a
woman.

I'd pull out fast, or find a safezone....You could be subject
to second class citizenship. You will not have protection from
rape in the military and or working with its contractors. 
Can you believe that?

Did you hear, did you know, will you allow such legislation
in America?   Who do we call?  What do we do?  This is an
outrage!  Where are our voices?

THIS IS Franken's SECOND BILL make no mistake!  HIS FIRST
BILL WAS REJECTED AND THEY PASSED THIS INSTEAD.
DO NOT FORGET THIS.   

You don't want to become

"Hollow Inside" by the Buzzcocks on Ear Candle
Radio right now

Congrats on your first passing Bill, Senator.   Please don't
take it personal if I ask if Dogs are worth more than women
in America?  How dare they suggest this to us?  We are worth
more than that, and we should go on a general strike.  We
should organize first. A revival of NOW?  Hmmmmm.... Any
suggestions?  Can we get some funding?  

[waiting for hope]

43. Love Al - I see many great things from him.

K&R

[InkAddict]

46. Such a good idea...right out of the shute...

Wonder who visited Al's office...Check out the Secretary of this 503(c) from their 2008 brochure: WARNING: pdf cached link -

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:RYHHvVbKSfUJ:w...

C. Madison "Brick" Brewer - http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=c__madi...

For those that don't like that link: http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/14/us/justice-dept-is-he...

Hmmmmm.....

[madmax]

47. Kudos to Al - getting right.

He's doing a good job right out of the gate. How many Senators can do that!!