119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2605

1. Short title
2. Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program to award grants for the provision of service dogs to veterans
3. Extension of certain limits on payments of pension

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act" or the "SAVES Act".

2. Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program to award grants for the provision of service dogs to veterans

(a) In general - Not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to nonprofit entities to provide service dogs to eligible veterans.

(b) Applications -

(1) In general - To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a nonprofit entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such commitments and information as the Secretary may require.

(2) Elements - An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) - A proposal for the provision of service dogs to eligible veterans, including how the nonprofit entity will communicate with the Secretary to ensure that the use of the grant funds results in an increased number of eligible veterans who are provided with service dogs.

(B) - A description of the following services or commitments to be provided by the nonprofit entity:

(i) - The training that will be provided to eligible veterans who receive service dogs under the pilot program.

(ii) - The training of dogs that will serve as service dogs provided to eligible veterans under the program.

(iii) - Any support or services other than training under clauses (i) and (ii) that will be provided for such dogs and eligible veterans.

(iv) - The plan for publicizing the availability of such service dogs through a marketing campaign that targets eligible veterans.

(v) - The commitment to humane treatment standards for service dogs.

(D) - The demonstrated experience of the nonprofit entity in training service dogs in compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

(c) Agreement required - If the Secretary approves an application submitted by a nonprofit entity under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall require the entity, as a condition of the receipt of a grant under the pilot program to enter into an agreement under which the entity agrees to—

(1) - notify each veteran who receives a service dog provided using grant funds that the service dog is being paid for, in whole or in part, by the Department of Veterans Affairs;

(2) - inform each such veteran of the benefits and services available from the Secretary for the veteran and the service dog;

(3) - not charge a fee to a veteran receiving a service dog provided using grant funds; and

(4) - adhere to such other terms, conditions, and limitations as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(d) Amount of grants - The Secretary shall make a grant in an amount that does not exceed $2,000,000 to each entity that enters into an agreement with the Secretary under subsection (c). The Secretary shall establish intervals of payment for the administration of each such grant.

(e) Use of funds -

(1) In general - A recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant to plan, develop, implement, and manage one or more programs that provide service dogs to eligible veterans.

(2) Limitations - The Secretary may establish—

(A) - a maximum amount that can be used by a grant recipient to cover administrative expenses for each grant awarded under this section; and

(B) - other conditions or limitations on the use of grant amounts under this section.

(f) Veterinary insurance -

(1) In general - Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary may provide to each veteran who receives a service dog through a grant under this section a commercially available veterinary insurance policy for the service dog.

(2) Continuation - If the Secretary provides a veterinary insurance policy to a veteran under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall continue to provide the policy to the veteran without regard to the continuation or termination of the pilot program, except as provided in paragraph (3).

(3) Discontinuation - The Secretary shall discontinue the provision of a veterinary insurance policy under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines doing so would be in the best interest of the veteran, the service dog, or the Federal Government.

(g) Training and technical assistance - The Secretary may provide training and technical assistance related to grant application and administration to applicants for and recipients of grants under this section.

(h) Oversight and monitoring -

(1) In general - The Secretary—

(A) - shall establish such oversight and monitoring requirements as the Secretary determines appropriate to ensure that grant amounts awarded under this section are used appropriately; and

(B) - may take such actions as the Secretary determines necessary to address any issues identified through the enforcement of such requirements.

(2) Reports and answers - The Secretary may require each recipient of a grant under this section to provide, in such form as may be prescribed by the Secretary, such reports or answers in writing to specific questions, surveys, or questionnaires as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the pilot program.

(i) Definitions - In this section:

(1) - The term eligible veteran means a veteran who—

(A) - is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, or is otherwise entitled to receive such care and services under subsection (c)(2) of such section;

(B) - has been prescribed a service dog by the Secretary; and

(2) - The term "covered condition" means any of the following disabilities, conditions, or diagnoses for which the Secretary determines, based upon medical judgment, that it is optimal for the veteran to manage the disability, condition, or diagnosis and live independently through the assistance of a trained service dog:

(A) - Blindness or visual impairment.

(B) - Loss of use of a limb, paralysis, or other significant mobility issue, including mental health mobility.

(D) - Post-traumatic stress disorder.

(E) - Traumatic brain injury.

(F) - Any other disability, condition, or diagnosis for which the Secretary determines, based on medical judgment, that it is optimal for the veteran to manage the disability, condition, or diagnosis, and live independently through the assistance of a service dog.

(3) - The term service dog means a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

(j) Authorization of appropriations - There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

(k) Termination - The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2031.

3. Extension of certain limits on payments of pension

Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking "November 30, 2031" and inserting "February 28, 2033".