Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, in my time serving on the Committee on Homeland Security, I have seen the importance of effective mental health services for the Department's workforce, and I thank Representative Gonzales for introducing this bill. Individuals within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection work in high-stress environments, protecting our air, land, and sea borders. One way to help address the stressors that they face and support their mental health needs is by using therapy dogs. That is why I do support this piece of legislation, which will create a pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to be trained as therapy dogs for the CBP workforce. Not only will this bill provide additional mental health services to CBP personnel, but it will help the dogs in need of homes in our communities, certainly something everyone can support. I know my colleagues and I are committed to improving the mental health services offered to the men and women who work on our front lines every day. I support this legislation, and I ask my colleagues to do the same.”