<NEWS RELEASE>

U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Congressman Tim Walz (1st Congressional District) will tour the St. Cloud VA Medical Center tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, Aug. 12), before having a private meeting with VA officials.

Franken introduced his first piece of legislation in July, setting up a pilot program through the VA to pair service dogs with wounded veterans. The measure passed the Senate 24 hours after it was introduced.

Walz serves on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the House of Representatives, and is the highest ranking enlisted soldier serving in Congress.