Honoring our K9 Heroes Act

Bill Number: H.R. 3144
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Government Operations and Politics
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-05-01: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Last Updated: 2026-06-10T08:07:26Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Honoring our K9 Heroes Act" (H.R. 3144) aims to support retired federal working dogs—such as those used in law enforcement or military roles—by creating a federal grant program to help cover their medical care expenses after retirement. This amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve access to veterinary services for these animals through partnerships with qualified nonprofits.

Key Provisions

Grant Program Establishment: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary must create a program offering grants to eligible nonprofits. These grants will cover part of the medical costs for retired federal working dogs.
Eligibility for Nonprofits: To qualify, organizations must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (meaning they are charitable nonprofits not required to pay federal income taxes), have at least two years of experience providing medical assistance to retired federal working dogs, and focus on supporting such dogs from law enforcement or military service.
Qualifying Dogs: Grants apply only to dogs that have received an official retirement letter from their employing federal agency and are currently cared for by their original handler (the person who worked with the dog during service).
Application Process: Nonprofits must apply to the DHS Secretary, providing details as required by the Secretary, at times and in formats specified.
Funding Authorization: Up to $1,000,000 is authorized for appropriation each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to fund the program.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Adds a new section (Section 2010) to Subtitle A of Title XX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which previously focused on homeland security grants but did not include provisions for animal welfare or retired working dogs.
Updates the Act's table of contents to reflect the new section.
This is the first federal program specifically targeting medical care grants for retired federal working dogs through DHS, expanding the scope of existing homeland security grant authorities to include animal support.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: DHS will administer the program, requiring minimal new infrastructure but involving application reviews and grant oversight. The funding authorization (not a guaranteed appropriation) limits fiscal burden, potentially easing administrative costs for federal agencies that retire working dogs.
On Citizens: Handlers of retired working dogs—often former law enforcement or military personnel—gain better access to affordable veterinary care, reducing personal financial strain. This could improve the well-being of these dogs and support the mental health of their handlers.
On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic federal working dogs.
Broader effects include enhanced animal welfare standards for service animals, potentially setting a precedent for similar support in other federal contexts.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Retired Federal Working Dogs and Handlers: Primary beneficiaries, as the program directly aids their medical needs and eases care responsibilities.
Eligible Nonprofits: Organizations like animal welfare charities that assist working dogs will receive funding opportunities, enabling expanded services.
Department of Homeland Security: Responsible for program implementation, grant distribution, and compliance oversight.
Federal Agencies Employing Working Dogs: Entities like the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, or military branches that issue retirement letters and transition dogs to handlers.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: The bill integrates seamlessly with existing tax code provisions for nonprofits and DHS grant authorities, without creating new regulatory burdens. It ensures accountability through retirement letter requirements, preventing misuse of funds.
Constitutional: No significant issues; it aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I and promotes general welfare without infringing on states' rights or individual liberties.
Political: Introduced bipartisanship (by Reps. Fitzpatrick (R) and Quigley (D)), signaling broad support for honoring service animals. It could encourage future legislation on veteran or law enforcement support, but its narrow scope limits controversy. As an authorization bill, actual funding depends on annual appropriations, which may face budgetary debates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Cosponsors (38)

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

Recent Actions

2025-05-01: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
2025-05-01: Introduced in House
2025-05-01: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Honoring our K9 Heroes Act — issued 2025-05-01 — PDF (3 pages)