H.R. 9664: K–9 Hero Act of 2026

This bill would create a new federal grant program to help pay for medical expenses for retired federal working dogs. The program would be run jointly by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, working with other relevant federal agencies, and would need to be in place by October 1, 2026.

What counts as a retired federal working dog

The bill defines a retired federal working dog as any dog that was previously owned and managed by a federal department or agency and used for government work, but is now retired.

Who could receive the grants

Grants would go only to eligible nonprofit organizations. To qualify, a nonprofit would need to mainly do one of two things:

• provide care for retired federal working dogs, or
• give financial help to the dogs’ owners so they can pay for medical costs.

What the money could be used for

Grant money could only be used for covered medical expenses for retired federal working dogs. The bill says this includes costs for:

• veterinary treatment for injuries, illnesses, or other health conditions;
• medical procedures and diagnostic tests;
• medications;
• medical supplements; and
• dietary alternatives needed to maintain the dog’s health.

These expenses can be covered even if the health problem showed up after the dog finished working for the government.

Limits on grant amounts

No nonprofit could receive more than $1,000,000 per fiscal year under the program. If a nonprofit does not spend all of a grant in one year, the next year’s grant would be reduced by the amount left unused.

Oversight and reporting

The bill includes several oversight requirements:

• The two departments must collect data and statistics on the health outcomes of retired federal working dogs.
• They must also create a process to track how much funding is needed for these dogs’ medical care.
• Nonprofits that receive grants must submit annual reports describing how they used the money.
• The departments must report to Congress by October 1, 2027, and then every year through September 30, 2031, on how the program is working, including how many dogs were helped, average medical costs, and how the funds were distributed.

Funding

The bill authorizes $5 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the program.

Relevant Companies

None found