John James (R-MI)
Protecting America’s Working Dogs Act of 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs, 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Protecting America's Working Dogs Act of 2026" requires the Attorney General to create a grant program to help pay for the medical expenses of qualified working dogs. Eligible nonprofit organizations can apply for grants up to $575,000 to provide financial assistance for these costs. Qualified dogs include retired Federal Government working dogs and service dogs working for veterans or retired Federal law enforcement officers. The program is intended to last for five fiscal years. The Attorney General must also report to Congress on the number of dogs assisted and the average cost of their medical expenses.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Directly provides funding for the medical expenses of service dogs working for veterans.
- Scored +5
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
Assists individuals who rely on service dogs for accessibility and health.
- Scored +5
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
Provides financial aid for the medical care of service dogs associated with veterans.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what is spent on the military?
Increases federal spending via the grant program.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill creates a new grant program, which increases government spending.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes the Attorney General to award grants, increasing federal expenditures.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial relief for caregivers: The bill provides grants to help with "covered medical expenses," which reduces the financial hardship for individuals, such as former partners, who take in retired working dogs (Section 2 and Section 3(g)(1)).
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Support for veterans and retired officers: The program extends medical expense assistance to service dogs that work for individuals who are veterans or retired Federal law enforcement officers (Section 3(g)(2)(B)).
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Funding for specialized nonprofits: Nonprofit organizations that primarily care for qualified working dogs can receive grants up to $575,000 to fund medical treatment and care (Section 3(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited eligibility for nonprofits: Only nonprofits that allocate at least 70 percent of their spending toward program expenses for covered medical expenses and properly report veterinary expenses on IRS Form 990 are eligible for grants (Section 3(b)).
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Grant amount reductions: The amount of money a nonprofit receives in a fiscal year will be reduced by any unexpended grant funds from previous years (Section 3(e)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Directly provides funding for the medical expenses of service dogs working for veterans. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Assists individuals who rely on service dogs for accessibility and health. Would retired people be better off under this? — Benefits retired Federal law enforcement officers by funding medical care for their service dogs. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Reduces financial hardship for low-income caregivers of retired working dogs. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Reduces financial hardship for caregivers of retired working dogs.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — Provides medical expense assistance for service dogs working for veterans.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — Provides financial aid for the medical care of service dogs associated with veterans. Does this reduce what is spent on the military? — Increases federal spending via the grant program.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires the Attorney General to report program statistics and costs to Congress. Does this give the federal government more power? — Grants the Attorney General authority to establish and manage a new grant program.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Indirectly supports individuals with disabilities by funding medical care for their service dogs.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes the Attorney General to award grants, increasing federal expenditures. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill creates a new grant program, which increases government spending.
- 3/12/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs, 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.
- Introduced in House