I 
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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Honoring our K9 He-
roes Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH INCREASED ACCESS TO 
MEDICAL 
CARE 
FOR 
RETIRED 
FEDERAL 
WORKING DOGS THROUGH CERTAIN HOME-
LAND 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 de-
scribed in subsection (d). 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity is eligible to re-
ceive a grant under the program established pursuant to 
subsection (a) if such entity— 
‘‘(1) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax-
ation under section 501(a) of such Code; 
‘‘(2) provides assistance for medical care for re-
tired Federal law enforcement and military working 
dogs; and 
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‘‘(3) prior to the date of application, has not 
less than a two-year history of providing such assist-
ance. 
‘‘(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 re-
quire. 
‘‘(d) RETIRED
FEDERAL
WORKING
DOGS
DE-
SCRIBED.—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.’’. 
Æ 
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