Honoring our K9 Heroes Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8887 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8887

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a grant program 
 to increase access to medical care for retired Federal working dogs, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 28, 2024

Mr. Fitzpatrick (for himself and Mr. Quigley) introduced the following 
      bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
                             Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a grant program 
 to increase access to medical care for retired Federal working dogs, 
                        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 ``Honoring our K9 Heroes Act''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH INCREASED ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE FOR 
              RETIRED FEDERAL WORKING DOGS THROUGH CERTAIN HOMELAND 
              SECURITY GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title XX of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 603 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 2010. GRANTS FOR INCREASED ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE FOR RETIRED 
              FEDERAL WORKING DOGS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program 
under which eligible entities may enter into an agreement with the 
Secretary to cover a portion of medical care expenses for retired 
Federal working dogs described in subsection (d).
    ``(b) Eligible Entities.--An entity is eligible to receive a grant 
under the program established pursuant to subsection (a) if such 
entity--
            ``(1) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 
        501(a) of such Code;
            ``(2) provides assistance for medical care for retired 
        Federal law enforcement and military working dogs; and
            ``(3) prior to the date of application, has not less than a 
        two-year history of providing such assistance.
    ``(c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the 
program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Retired Federal Working Dogs Described.--A retired Federal 
working dog described in this subsection--
            ``(1) has been issued a retirement letter from the Federal 
        department or agency that employed such dog; and
            ``(2) is in the care of its handler.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $1,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 2009 the following new item:

``Sec. 2010. Grants for increased access to medical care for retired 
                            Federal working dogs.''.
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