March 12, 2026
Mr. James introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To require the Attorney General to establish a grant program to assist with the medical expenses of qualified working dogs, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Protecting America’s Working Dogs Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The Department of Defense utilizes approximately 1,600 military working dogs to protect our nation and keep United States military personnel out of harm’s way.
(2)
Military working dogs have played an integral role in the success of numerous operations and missions, including the raids which resulted in the deaths of Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaeda, and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS.
(3)
Working dogs play a critical role in assisting our Armed Forces and Federal and local law enforcement in protecting Americans and defending freedom at home and abroad.
(4)
Within the Federal Government, working dogs assist the U.S. Capitol Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Defense, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, amongst other Federal departments and agencies.
(5)
Almost all working dogs work in tandem with our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers until they are no longer medically able, at which point they are medically separated.
(6)
The future of retired working dogs with respect to ownership and provision of medical services is often unclear after the working dog is retired.
(7)
The medical treatment required by many former working dogs is significant enough that it creates a hardship for the individuals, often former partners, who take in these canine heroes and become responsible for their medical costs.
Sec. 3. Grant program to fund covered medical expenses for qualified working dogs
(a) Establishment
Not later than 1 fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each fiscal year thereafter for 4 fiscal years, the Attorney General shall carry out a program under which the Attorney General may award grants, each in amounts not to exceed $575,000, to eligible nonprofit organizations to assist with the covered medical expenses of qualified working dogs.
(b) Eligibility
A nonprofit organization is eligible to receive a grant under this section if the organization—
(1)
primarily exists to care for qualified working dogs;
(2)
provides medically related financial assistance to owners of qualified working dogs;
(3)
allocates not less than 70 percent of its spending towards program expenses directly related to assisting with the covered medical expenses of qualified working dogs; and
(4)
separately states the veterinary expenses of such organization on the Internal Revenue Service Form 990 filed by such organization with the Internal Revenue Service.
(c) Application
To receive a grant under this section, a nonprofit organization shall submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may require, including information that demonstrates that the nonprofit organization meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (b).
(d) Use of funds
A recipient of a grant under this section shall use such grant to pay for covered medical expenses of qualified working dogs.
(e) Grant amount reduction
A grant amount awarded to an eligible nonprofit organization for a fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be reduced by an amount equal to the total amount of unexpended grant funds awarded under this section in previous fiscal years.
(f) Report
The Attorney General shall submit to Congress a report that details—
(1)
the number of qualified working dogs assisted pursuant to a grant awarded under this section; and
(2)
the average medical expenses for each qualified working dog assisted pursuant to a grant awarded under this section.
(g) Definitions
In this Act—
(1)
the term covered medical expenses means any expenses related to medical treatment and care of qualified working dogs, including veterinarian office visits, medical procedures, diagnostic tests, and medications or medically necessary supplements;
(2)
the term qualified working dog means—
(A)
a retired dog that worked for the Federal Government, including the Armed Forces, to carry out military, security, or law enforcement activity; and
(B)
a service dog that works for an individual who is a veteran or a retired Federal law enforcement officer; and
(3)
the term veteran has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.