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H.R. 2605: Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act

This bill, known as the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act (or SAVES Act), aims to support eligible veterans by providing them with service dogs through a grant program managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Here is a breakdown of the key components of the bill:

Establishment of Pilot Program

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to set up a pilot program within 24 months of the bill’s enactment. This program will:

  • Provide grants competitively to nonprofit organizations that assist in providing service dogs to eligible veterans.
  • Operate for a five-year period, starting from when the first grant is awarded.

Grant Application Requirements

Nonprofit organizations wishing to apply for a grant must:

  • Submit an application that includes proposals for providing service dogs and details on training programs for both the dogs and the veterans.
  • Provide a marketing plan to inform eligible veterans about the availability of service dogs.
  • Document experience in training service animals and ensure humane treatment of the dogs.

Grant Awarding Process

The VA will grant funds to selected nonprofit organizations after reviewing applications. Key details include:

  • Each grant cannot exceed $2,000,000.
  • Grantees must enter into an agreement with the VA that outlines the terms of the grant.
  • Grant funds are intended for program development, implementation, and management, with some limits on administrative expenses.

Use of Grant Funds

Grants must be utilized for:

  • Planning, developing, or managing service dog programs for veterans.
  • Meeting any additional terms set by the VA regarding how funds can be allocated.

Veteran Benefits and Restrictions

Recipients of the grants must ensure that:

  • Each veteran receiving a service dog is informed that the dog is funded by the VA.
  • No fees can be charged to veterans for obtaining service dogs through this program.

Veterinary Insurance

The VA will provide a commercially available veterinary insurance policy for each service dog given to veterans through the grants. This coverage will continue regardless of the pilot program's status.

Oversight and Reporting

The VA will implement monitoring procedures to ensure grant funds are used correctly. Grantees may also be required to submit reports to the VA as deemed necessary.

Definitions and Conditions

The bill specifies:

  • Who qualifies as an eligible veteran (those with certain disabilities such as PTSD, hearing loss, etc.).
  • What constitutes a service dog, defined as a dog trained to assist veterans with specific disabilities.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes an allocation of $10,000,000 each year for five years to support the pilot program's operations.

Relevant Companies

  • None found

This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

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Sponsors

38 bill sponsors

Actions

4 actions

Date Action
Jun. 12, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held
Apr. 11, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr. 02, 2025 Introduced in House
Apr. 02, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

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