K–9 Hero Act of 2026

the Secretaries, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, may award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to assist with the covered medical expenses of retired Federal working dogs (in this section referred to as the ``program''). (b) Eligibility.--A nonprofit organization is eligible to receive a grant under the program if the primary activities of the nonprofit organization are to provide care for retired Federal working dogs or financial assistance to the owners of such dogs for the purpose of covering the costs of covered medical expenses. (c) Applications.--To receive a grant under the program, an eligible nonprofit organization shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries may require, including information that demonstrates that the nonprofit organization meets the eligibility requirements under such subsection. (d) Limitations on Grant Amounts.-- (1) Total amount limitation.--The total amount of grants awarded under the program to an eligible nonprofit organization may not exceed $1,000,000 per fiscal year. (2) Reduction in grant amounts.--If an eligible nonprofit organization does not expend the full amount of a grant awarded to such organization under the program for a fiscal year, the grant amount awarded for any subsequent fiscal year shall be reduced by an amount equal to such unexpended amount. (e) Use of Grant Amounts.--A grant awarded under the program may only be used for the purpose of covering the costs of covered medical expenses of retired Federal working dogs. (f) Oversight.-- (1) Requirements.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly-- (A) develop data and statistics relating to health outcomes for retired Federal working dogs, to be used by eligible nonprofit organizations that receive a grant under the program; and (B) establish processes to monitor and document the amount of funding necessary to support a retired Federal working dog with respect to covered medical expenses. (2) Collection of information.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall collect such information from eligible nonprofit organizations that receive a grant under the program as the Secretaries determine appropriate to monitor and evaluate the use of grants, including to monitor health outcomes for each retired Federal working dog supported by such a grant over a five-year period following the receipt of such grant. (3) Recipient reports required.--As a condition of receiving a grant under the program, an eligible nonprofit organization shall agree to submit to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, on an annual basis for the duration of the period during which the eligible nonprofit organization uses such grant amounts, a report describing the purposes for which such amounts were used. (g) Reports to Congress.--Not later than October 1, 2027, and on an annual basis thereafter until September 30, 2031, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of the program. Such report shall include the following: (1) An identification of the number of retired Federal working dogs supported pursuant to a grant awarded under the program. (2) An assessment of the average annual covered expenses for each retired Federal working dog supported pursuant to such a grant, and a description of how the Secretaries used such average to determine grant amounts. (3) A description of the disbursement of grant amounts awarded under the program with respect to categories of retired Federal working dogs and eligible nonprofit organizations. (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (i) Definitions.--In this section: (1) The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. (2) The term ``average annual covered expenses'' means the average amount of covered expenses for a retired Federal working dog during a fiscal year. (3) The term ``covered expense'' means any expense that derives from medical treatment or health care provided to a retired Federal working dog, including-- (A) any expense resulting from the treatment by a veterinarian of an injury, illness, or other health condition, regardless of whether such condition manifested in such dog during the period in which such dog conducted work on behalf of a Federal department or agency; and (B) any expense relating to a medical procedure, diagnostic test, medication, medical supplement, or dietary alternative necessary to preserve and maintain the health of such dog. (4) The term ``eligible nonprofit organization'' means a nonprofit organization that meets the eligibility criteria under subsection (b). (5) The term ``retired Federal working dog'' means any dog previously owned and managed by a Federal department or agency and assigned work on behalf of such department or agency, that is retired from such work. <all>