I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5081 

To require the Attorney General to establish a grant program to assist 

with the medical expenses of qualified working dogs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 14, 2019 

Mr. WRIGHT (for himself, Mr. GAETZ, Mr. PENCE, Mr. RIGGLEMAN, Mr. 

WEBER of Texas, Mr. CARTER of Texas, and Mr. BILIRAKIS) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 

and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require the Attorney General to establish a grant program 

to assist with the medical expenses of qualified working 

dogs, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘K–9 Hero Act of 

5 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) On October 27, 2019, United States special 

2 operations forces carried out a raid, which resulted 

3 in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. 

4 (2) A military working dog, whose identity is 

5 classified, played an integral role in the success of 

6 the raid and kept United States military personnel 

7 out of harm’s way. 

8 (3) Although injured during the raid, the mili9 tary working dog is recovering and continues to 

10 serve heroically alongside his handler in theater. 

11 (4) Working dogs, such as the one involved in 

12 the Al-Baghdadi raid, play a critical role in assisting 

13 our Armed Forces and Federal and local law en14 forcement in protecting Americans and defending 

15 freedom at home and abroad. 

16 (5) Within the Federal Government, working 

17 dogs assist the U.S. Capitol Police, the Bureau of 

18 Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the 

19 Transportation Security Administration, the Depart20 ment of Defense, U.S. Customs and Border Protec21 tion, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 

22 amongst other Federal departments and agencies. 

23 (6) Almost all working dogs work in tandem 

24 with our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers 


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1 until they are no longer medically able, at which 

2 point they are medically separated. 

3 (7) The future of retired working dogs with re4 spect to ownership and provision of medical services 

5 is often unclear and the medical treatment required 

6 by many former working dogs is significant enough 

7 that it creates a hardship for the individuals, often 

8 former partners, who take in these canine heroes. 

9 SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM TO FUND COVERED MEDICAL EX10 PENSES FOR QUALIFIED WORKING DOGS. 

11 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 fiscal year 

12 after the date of enactment of this Act, and each fiscal 

13 year thereafter for 4 fiscal years, the Attorney General 

14 shall carry out a program under which the Attorney Gen15 eral may award grants, each in amounts not to exceed 

16 $575,000, to eligible nonprofit organizations to assist with 

17 the covered medical expenses of qualified working dogs. 

18 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—A nonprofit organization is eligi19 ble to receive a grant under this section if the organization 

20 primarily exists to care for qualified working dogs and 

21 provide medically related financial assistance to owners of 

22 qualified working dogs. 

23 (c) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under this sec24 tion, a nonprofit organization shall submit to the Attorney 

25 General an application at such time, in such manner, and 


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1 containing such information as the Attorney General may 

2 require, including information that demonstrates that the 

3 nonprofit organization meets the eligibility requirements 

4 under subsection (b). 

5 (d) USE OF FUNDS.—A recipient of a grant under 

6 this section shall use such grant to pay for covered medical 

7 expenses of qualified working dogs. 

8 (e) GRANT AMOUNT REDUCTION.—A grant amount 

9 awarded to an eligible nonprofit organization for a fiscal 

10 year pursuant to this section shall be reduced by an 

11 amount equal to the total amount of unexpended grant 

12 funds awarded under this section in previous fiscal years. 

13 (f) REPORT.—The Attorney General shall submit to 

14 Congress a report that details— 

15 (1) the number of qualified working dogs as16 sisted pursuant to a grant awarded under this sec17 tion; and 

18 (2) the average medical expenses for each quali19 fied working dog assisted pursuant to a grant 

20 awarded under this section. 

21 (g) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act— 

22 (1) the term ‘‘covered medical expenses’’ means 

23 any expenses related to medical treatment and care 

24 of qualified working dogs, including veterinarian ofVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:40 Nov 23, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5081.IH H5081

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1 fice visits, medical procedures, diagnostic tests, and 

2 medications or medically necessary supplements; and 

3 (2) the term ‘‘qualified working dog’’ means a 

4 retired dog that worked for the Federal Government, 

5 including the Armed Forces, to carry out military or 

6 law enforcement activity. 

7 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

8 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 

9 $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 

Æ 


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