Persistence Pays Off: Ciscomani Celebrates Service Dog Victory During National Service Dog Month

Tucson, AZ - Every September, National Service Dog Month recognized the vital role service dogs played in the lives of Americans with disabilities. Representative Juan Ciscomani highlighted his bipartisan efforts to ensure students, researchers, veterans, and other individuals with disabilities were not unnecessarily prevented from pursuing opportunities in STEM and research because they relied on service dogs.

Earlier this year, Ciscomani successfully led a bipartisan effort to secure greater clarity surrounding federal guidance on service dogs in laboratory settings at universities and other research facilities. His advocacy followed concerns raised by Joey Ramp-Adams and others who faced barriers stemming from an outdated loophole from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

"Service dogs are a lifeline to millions of Americans," said Juan Ciscomani."When I first met Joey Ramp-Adams and Sampson in 2024 where I first learned about a bureaucratic-outdated loophole that limited students who work in labs ability to bring their service dogs, I knew we had to fight to change this loophole. With the partnership of Joey, I fought to ensure this priority became a reality for students not only in Arizona but across the country. This National Service Dog Month, I'm so proud that our persistence paid off and we were able to secure this win for students and will continue fighting for a more inclusive future for all."

Ramp-Adams applauded Ciscomani's advocacy and credited his persistence in addressing barriers disabled scientists and veterans face.

"As an advocate for the disabled community, we want to personally thank @RepCiscomani for doing what too many don't-listening, following through, and standing firm when it mattered most. We reached out with a problem that was costing disabled scientists-including many veterans-the opportunities they earned and deserved. He listened. He made a promise. And then we worked together-consistently, persistently- to make this happen. This was not easy. It was an uphill fight against some of the most powerful institutions in science, the @CDCgov and @NIH where outdated interpretations were driving exclusion. For two years, he and his staff stayed committed. He pushed for clarity where there was ambiguity. He honored his word when it would have been easier not to. Because of that persistence, we now have a path forward-one grounded in risk assessment, not exclusion for our veterans and disabled community who are seeking science or STEM academics or careers. This is what real leadership looks like," said Joey Ramp-Adams.

​Ramp-Adams later took to X thanking Ciscomani for his work once again:

"Without Rep. Ciscomani's persistence over nearly three years, this resolution may never have been achieved. His leadership, advocacy, and bipartisan approach helped establish a national standard for inclusion that can no longer be ignored. Opening doors that should never have been closed. Thank you, sir!"

Since 2024, Ciscomani has been an unwavering champion for individuals with disabilities who rely on service dogs. He fought tirelessly to ensure these Americans would never again face categorical exclusion from STEM fields or research environments because of outdated or misapplied CDC and NIH policies. Fueled by the concerns raised by Joey Ramp-Adams and other advocates, Ciscomani pressed federal agencies for action. His persistence paid off with federal guidance being ultimately revised to affirm that service animals are allowed in laboratory settings, with access determined by individualized risk assessments rather than discriminatory blanket bans.

This decisive update not only reinforced that service animals are protected disability accommodations but also established that access decisions must be anchored in individualized risk assessments, not misinterpretations of outdated language. This much needed update resulted in opened doors for students, veterans, and researchers with disabilities nationwide, and stands as a testament to the power of determined leadership.

Ciscomani's commitment to individuals with disabilities in Arizona is clear through his continuous support of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center Program in Tucson and Arizona Industries for the Blind. Earlier this year, he celebrated the program's 30th anniversary and visited the AbilityOne Base Supply Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, recognizing its vital impact. Nationally, AbilityOne employs over 36,000 people, including approximately 2,500 veterans, and is the largest source of employment for both the blind and individuals living with disabilities.

During National Service Dog Month, Ciscomani highlighted the impact of his advocacy and the importance of ensuring Americans who relied on service dogs could pursue an education, build careers, and contribute to their communities without unnecessary barriers.

Watch a video from Rep. Ciscomani highlighting his legislative victory for service dogs during National Service Dog Month HERE or BELOW.

###