Vets and Pets Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10863 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10863

  To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot 
     program under which the Secretary awards grants to nonprofit 
 organizations to assist such organizations in providing dogs and cats 
         as pets for eligible veterans, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 22, 2026

  Mr. Correa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot 
     program under which the Secretary awards grants to nonprofit 
 organizations to assist such organizations in providing dogs and cats 
         as pets for eligible veterans, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Vets and Pets Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM TO AWARD GRANTS 
              FOR THE PROVISION OF DOGS AND CATS AS PETS FOR VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 
a pilot program under which the Secretary awards grants, on a 
competitive basis, to nonprofit organizations to provide dogs or cats, 
or both, as pets for veterans.
    (b) Use of Funds.--The recipient of a grant under this section 
shall use the grant to provide dogs or cats, or both, as pets to 
veterans. In providing such a pet to a veteran, the organization shall 
also--
            (1) provide initial supplies for the pet, including a 
        collar, leash, bedding, food for not less than one month, and 
        any other initial supplies that the Secretary considers 
        appropriate;
            (2) cover the costs of spaying or neutering the pet; and
            (3) cover the costs of all initial medications and 
        vaccinations for the pet and any additional medications or 
        vaccinations for any additional periods as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.
    (c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, a nonprofit organization shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
and assurances as the Secretary may require.
    (d) Eligible Organizations.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, a nonprofit organization must demonstrate to the 
satisfaction of the Secretary that the organization--
            (1) is committed to the humane treatment of pets; and
            (2) has an effective working relationship with one or more 
        veteran service organizations.
    (e) Termination.--The authority to provide a grant under this 
section shall terminate at the end of fiscal year 2028.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section $1,000,000 for the period 
consisting of fiscal years 2027 through 2028.
    (g) Report.--After the end of the pilot program, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a 
report on the pilot program. The report shall include such findings and 
recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate.
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