LANGHORNE, PA – Today, October 2nd, 2020, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) announced that Shamrock Reins in Pipersville, PA was awarded $172,347.36 by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The award came as part of the VA adaptive sports grants program to assist in equine therapy treatment.
Programs funded through these grants will offer adaptive sports and activities to more than 13,000 Veterans and members of the Armed Forces who have disabilities. The VA has allocated $1.5 million to be used in the support of organizations that offer equine-assisted therapy to foster and advance the mental health of veterans. Grant recipients may use the funds for planning, developing, managing, and implementing adaptive sports programs.
“Every day, 20 veterans take their own lives and the majority of those 20 never had access to care at the VA or any psychiatric treatment. Janet Brennan and the entire team at Shamrock Reins have changed the lives of many former service members and first responders as they use equine-assisted therapies to help in the healing process, provide comfort, and aid in adjusting back into civilian life,” said Fitzpatrick. “Our ability to assist organizations like Shamrock Reins to assist those veterans is a small step in letting our former service members know that their country has their back and I am proud to have supported Shamrock Reins throughout this process. We should explore every avenue to protect the lives of those who have already given so much for our great nation and ensure they have access to necessary care.”
Since 2014, Shamrock Reins has offered equine therapy to help veterans and first responders recover from PTSD. Founded by Janet Brennan, a registered nurse whose father served in the Vietnam War, Shamrock Reins uses a range of equine services, including riding therapy, to help assimilate our servicemen and women back into society following their tours of duty.
In August of 2019, Congressman Fitzpatrick, along with Congressman Conor Lamb (PA-17), visited Shamrock Reins during a Congressional Swap between the two members. The meeting served as an opportunity for the staff of Shamrock Reins to meet with Congressman Lamb who serves on House Veterans Affairs Committee.
Last month Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick and Conor Lamb introduced H.R. 8147 the bipartisan Testing, Researching, and Expanding Alternative Treatments (TREAT) Act.
In June, Congressman Fitzpatrick and Congressman Lamb led a bipartisan effort to support transition to civilian life services for veterans.
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