Summary

Establishes a VA competitive pilot grant program to fund nonprofit organizations that provide service dogs to eligible veterans, authorizing up to $10 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 and capping grants at $2,000,000 per nonprofit. The VA must set up the pilot within 24 months, impose program requirements (including no fees to veterans, humane treatment, training, reporting, and oversight), may offer veterinary insurance to recipients, and must end pilot-authority on Sept 30, 2031. The bill also extends an existing date-based limit on a veterans' pension provision from November 30, 2031 to February 28, 2033.

Key Points

• Creates a VA competitive pilot grant program to fund nonprofit placement of service dogs for eligible veterans.
• Grants capped at $2,000,000 per nonprofit; $10,000,000 authorized per year for FY2027–FY2031; pilot authority ends Sept 30, 2031.
• Nonprofit applicants must show training plans, veteran training/support, humane animal care, ADA compliance, and program marketing.
• Grantees may not charge veterans fees for grant-funded service dogs and must notify veterans of VA funding and benefits.
• VA may offer commercially available veterinary insurance to service-dog recipients and continue it unless discontinuation is justified.
• VA has authority to limit administrative reimbursements, provide technical assistance, monitor grantees, and enforce requirements.
• Defines eligible veterans and covered conditions (e.g., blindness, mobility impairments, hearing loss, PTSD, TBI, and others).
• Extends an existing date-limited provision affecting veterans’ pensions from Nov 30, 2031 to Feb 28, 2033.

Categories & Tags