K–9 Hero Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
Introduced
Summary
Would fund medical care for retired Federal working dogs by creating a dedicated federal grant program. The program would be administered jointly by the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to give eligible nonprofits funds to cover veterinary and medical costs.
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- Owners of retired Federal working dogs would get financial help through eligible nonprofits to pay for diagnostics, treatments, surgeries, medications, supplements, and special diets when those costs arise. This assistance aims to reduce reliance on private fundraising.
- Nonprofit organizations that primarily care for retired Federal working dogs or help owners pay for medical bills could apply for grants capped at $1.0 million per fiscal year. Any unspent grant money in one year would reduce that nonprofit’s grant the next year.
- The Secretaries would implement the program by October 1, 2026, collect five years of health-outcome data per supported dog, and submit annual reports through 2031 showing how many dogs were helped and average costs per dog.
*Would authorize $5.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Veterinary grants for retired federal dogs
If enacted, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security would create a joint grant program by October 1, 2026. The program would be authorized $5,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031. Grants would go to eligible nonprofits that primarily care for retired Federal working dogs or give owners money to pay covered medical expenses. Covered expenses would include veterinary treatment, diagnostics, procedures, medicines, supplements, and special diets, even if the condition began before the grant. No single nonprofit could receive more than $1,000,000 in a fiscal year, and any unspent amount would reduce that nonprofit’s next-year award. Recipients would apply, report annually while using the funds, and the agencies would track each supported dog’s health for five years and report to Congress annually from October 1, 2027 through September 30, 2031.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov