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119-hr-7904119th CongressWALLET

Protecting America’s Working Dogs Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative James, John [R-MI-10]

Introduced

Summary

Grants to cover veterinary care for retired and service working dogs. This bill would create an Attorney General-run grant program to help pay medical costs for retired federal working dogs and service dogs that assist veterans or retired federal law enforcement officers.

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  • Owners and former handlers who adopt retired working dogs would face less financial strain because eligible nonprofits could use grant money to pay covered medical bills and treatments.
  • Nonprofit organizations that primarily care for qualified working dogs could apply for awards up to $575,000 each. Eligible groups must spend at least 70 percent of their funds on program expenses and separately report veterinary costs on IRS Form 990.
  • "Qualified working dogs" includes retired dogs that served federal military, security, or law enforcement roles and service dogs that assist veterans or retired federal law enforcement officers.
  • Grants would be awarded starting within 1 fiscal year and in each of the 4 fiscal years after that. The Attorney General must report to Congress on the number of dogs helped and the average medical expense per dog.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Grants for veterans' and working dogs

If enacted, the Attorney General would run a grant program to help pay veterinary bills for qualifying working dogs. Grants would start no later than one fiscal year after enactment and be made each fiscal year for four years. Each grant award to a nonprofit would be no more than $575,000 and must pay only covered medical expenses like vet visits, tests, procedures, and medicines. To get grants, nonprofits would have to mainly care for qualified working dogs, give medical financial help to owners, spend at least 70% on those program costs, and separately list veterinary costs on IRS Form 990. A "qualified working dog" would include retired Federal working dogs and service dogs for veterans or retired Federal law enforcement officers. The Attorney General would cut current-year awards by any previously awarded grant funds that remain unspent. The Attorney General would also report to Congress how many dogs got help and the average medical cost per dog.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

James, John [R-MI-10]

MI • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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