Sponsor
John James
Representative · R-MI
Representative · R-MI
The bill expands support and clearer ownership/medical pathways for retired and service working dogs—benefiting veterans, handlers, and nonprofits—while creating new federal spending and administrative requirements that may exclude smaller organizations and increase costs for taxpayers.
Veterans with service dogs will receive financial help for veterinary care through DOJ-funded grants awarded to nonprofits.
Retired federal working dogs and their handlers (military personnel, law-enforcement, and veterans) will have clearer ownership/transfer pathways and access to medical-assistance programs supported by the grants.
Nonprofit organizations that primarily care for working dogs will receive federal grant funding (up to $575,000 per award) to expand assistance programs and capacity.
Taxpayers will fund a new DOJ grant program over five years, increasing federal spending with costs borne by taxpayers.
Federal agencies (DoD, DHS components, DOJ) and nonprofits will face increased administrative and compliance burdens to track ownership transfers, administer grants, and meet reporting requirements.
Smaller nonprofits that cannot meet the 70% program-spending threshold or Form 990 reporting requirements may be excluded from receiving grants, limiting support options for some dogs and handlers.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DOJ grant program to fund nonprofits that pay covered medical expenses for qualified working dogs over a five‑year award period.
Creates a five‑year Department of Justice grant program to help pay covered medical expenses for qualified working dogs (including retired federal military and law enforcement dogs and service dogs for veterans or retired federal officers). Grants, administered by the Attorney General and awarded to eligible nonprofit organizations, may not exceed $575,000 each and must be spent on defined veterinary and medical costs; the Attorney General must report to Congress on dogs assisted and average medical costs.
Official title: To require the Attorney General to establish a grant program to assist with the medical expenses of qualified working dogs, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 12, 2026 by John James · Last progress March 12, 2026