Sponsors (42)
The bill provides modest federal support and formal recognition to improve care for retired federal working dogs and help nonprofits and handlers with veterinary costs, at the cost of a small increase in federal spending and eligibility/administrative rules that could exclude some providers or slow access.
Federal working-dog handlers: receive partial reimbursement for veterinary care for retired federal working dogs, lowering their out-of-pocket costs.
Nonprofit organizations: receive federal grant funding to support organizations that assist retired working dogs, strengthening continuity of care and organizational capacity.
Retired federal working dogs and their handlers: a federal program recognizes the public service of working dogs and promotes improved animal welfare outcomes.
Taxpayers/general federal budget: the $1,000,000 annual authorization increases federal spending and could modestly add to the deficit or crowd out other priorities.
Nonprofits and handlers: delegating administration and application requirements to DHS may create administrative burdens and delays, slowing access to reimbursements and grants.
Smaller or newer providers: restricting grant eligibility to 501(c)(3) organizations with a two-year history may exclude newer or small providers who care for retired dogs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DHS grant program funding medical care for retired Federal working dogs and authorizes $1,000,000 annually for FY2026–FY2030.
Official title: To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a grant program to increase access to medical care for retired Federal working dogs, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 1, 2025 by Brian K. Fitzpatrick · Last progress May 1, 2025
Establishes a DHS grant program to help pay medical care costs for retired Federal working dogs in the care of their handlers. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits with at least two years' experience assisting retired Federal law enforcement and military working dogs may apply, and Congress authorizes $1,000,000 per year for FY2026–FY2030 to run the program. The Secretary of Homeland Security will set application and administration rules. The Act also makes a clerical table-of-contents insertion in the Homeland Security Act.