Bill Summary
The "Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025" (SAVES Act of 2025) is legislation aimed at supporting eligible veterans by providing them with service dogs through a pilot grant program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Key provisions of the Act include:
1. **Grant Program Establishment**: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to set up a pilot program within 24 months of the Act’s enactment. This program will award competitive grants to nonprofit organizations that assist in providing service dogs to veterans with specific disabilities.
2. **Eligibility and Application**: Nonprofit entities must submit applications detailing their proposals for service dog provision, training for both veterans and dogs, additional support services, and their marketing strategies to reach eligible veterans.
3. **Grant Allocation**: Grants can be up to $2 million per fiscal year, with provisions for increases based on inflation or program needs, with prior notification to Congress.
4. **Use of Funds**: Grant recipients must use the funds for developing and managing programs that specifically provide service dogs to eligible veterans, without charging any fees to the veterans receiving the dogs.
5. **Veterinary Insurance**: The Act mandates that each veteran who receives a service dog through the program will also receive a veterinary insurance policy for the dog.
6. **Monitoring and Reporting**: The Secretary has the authority to oversee the program, requiring reports from grant recipients to ensure proper implementation and effectiveness.
7. **Funding Authorization**: The Act authorizes $10 million annually for five years to support this initiative.
Overall, the SAVES Act aims to enhance the quality of life for veterans with disabilities by facilitating access to trained service dogs, while ensuring proper oversight and support from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Possible Impacts
The "Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025" (SAVES Act of 2025) has the potential to affect people in several significant ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Improved Quality of Life for Veterans**:
Eligible veterans suffering from disabilities such as PTSD, mobility issues, or sensory impairments may experience enhanced quality of life through the companionship and assistance of trained service dogs. These dogs can perform tasks that help veterans navigate their daily lives more independently, providing not only physical support but also emotional stability, which can lead to better mental health outcomes.
2. **Support for Nonprofit Organizations**:
Nonprofit entities that specialize in training service dogs will receive grants to support their programs. This funding can enable these organizations to expand their operations, improve training methods, and reach more eligible veterans. As a result, these nonprofits may hire additional staff, create job opportunities within the community, and enhance their capacity to deliver services, contributing to the local economy.
3. **Access to Veterinary Care**:
The legislation mandates that each eligible veteran who receives a service dog through the program will be provided with a veterinary insurance policy for the dog. This ensures that veterans have access to necessary veterinary care, which can alleviate financial stress related to pet ownership and promote the health and well-being of the service dogs. This provision highlights the importance of maintaining the welfare of service animals, which in turn supports the effectiveness of these animals in assisting veterans.
These examples illustrate the multifaceted impact the SAVES Act of 2025 could have on veterans, nonprofit organizations, and the broader community.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1441 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 342
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1441
[Report No. 119-113]
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to
nonprofit entities to assist such entities in carrying out programs to
provide service dogs to eligible veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 10, 2025
Mr. Tillis (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Durbin, Mr.
Cramer, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. King, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Schumer,
Mr. Budd, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Booker, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Hirono,
Mr. Coons, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Hassan, Ms.
Alsobrooks, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Capito, and Mr. Husted) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
February 24, 2026
Reported by Mr. Moran, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to
nonprofit entities to assist such entities in carrying out programs to
provide service dogs to eligible veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Service Dogs Assisting
Veterans Act of 2025'' or the ``SAVES Act of 2025''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM TO AWARD
GRANTS FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS TO
VETERANS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Pilot program required.--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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the
pilot program during the five-year period beginning on the date
on which the first grant is awarded under this
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Applications.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Elements.--An application submitted under
paragraph (1) shall include the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) A proposal for the provision of
service dogs to eligible veterans, including how the
nonprofit entity will communicate with the Secretary to
ensure an increasing number of service dogs are
provided to such veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) A description of the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) The training that will be
provided by the nonprofit entity to eligible
veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) The training of dogs that
will serve as service dogs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) Any additional support or
services the nonprofit entity will provide for
such dogs and eligible veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) The plan for publicizing the
availability of such dogs through a marketing
campaign that targets eligible
veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) The commitment of the
nonprofit entity to have humane standards for
animals.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vi) 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.).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Award of Grants.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award a grant
to each nonprofit entity for which the Secretary has approved
an application submitted under subsection (b)(1).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Agreement required.--Before the provision of
any grant amounts to a nonprofit entity selected to receive a
grant under this section, the Secretary shall enter into an
agreement, containing such terms, conditions, and limitations
as the Secretary determines appropriate, with such
entity.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Maximum grant amount.--A grant awarded to a
nonprofit entity under this section may not exceed
$2,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Payments.--The Secretary shall establish
intervals of payment for the administration of each grant
awarded under this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Use of Funds.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Requirement.--A recipient of a grant
under this section shall use the grant amounts to plan,
develop, implement, or manage (or any combination
thereof) one or more covered programs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Covered program defined.--In this
paragraph, the term ``covered program'' means a program
under which--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) service dogs are provided to
participants in the program; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) only eligible veterans are
allowed to participate in the
program.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Administrative expenses.--The Secretary may
establish a maximum amount for each grant awarded under this
section that may be used by the recipient of the grant to cover
administrative expenses.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Other conditions and limitations.--The
Secretary may establish other conditions or limitations on the
use of grant amounts under this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Requirements for Grant Recipients.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Notifications and information.--A recipient of
a grant under this section shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) notify each veteran who receives a
service dog through such grant that the service dog is
being paid for, in whole or in part, by the Department
of Veterans Affairs; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) inform each such veteran of the
benefits and services available from the Secretary for
the veteran and the service dog.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Prohibition on certain fees.--A recipient of a
grant under this section may not charge a fee to a veteran
receiving a service dog through such grant.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Veterinary Insurance.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary shall 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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Training and Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may
provide training and technical assistance to recipients of grants under
this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (h) Oversight and Monitoring.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) may take such actions as the Secretary
determines necessary to address any issues identified
through the enforcement of such requirements.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Eligible veteran.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--The term ``eligible
veteran'' means a veteran (as defined in section 101 of
title 38, United States Code) who, as determined by a
physician, has one or more disabilities, conditions, or
diagnoses described in subparagraph (B).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Disability, condition, diagnosis
described.--A disability, condition, or diagnosis
described in this subparagraph is any of the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) Blindness or visual
impairment.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) Loss of use of a limb,
paralysis, or other significant mobility issue,
including mental health mobility.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) Loss of hearing.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) Post-traumatic stress
disorder.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (v) Traumatic brain
injury.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (vi) 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.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program''
means the pilot program required by subsection
(a)(1).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Service dog.--The term ``service dog'' means
any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform
tasks that are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) for the benefit of a veteran with a
disability, condition, or diagnosis described in
paragraph (1)(B); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) directly related to the disability,
condition, or diagnosis of the veteran.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of
the five consecutive fiscal years following the fiscal year in which
the pilot program is established under subsection (a).</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act
of 2025'' or the ``SAVES Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM TO AWARD GRANTS
FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS TO VETERANS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Pilot program required.--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 based
on the application elements listed in subsection (b)(2), to
nonprofit entities to provide service dogs to eligible
veterans.
(2) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program during the five-year period beginning on the date on
which the first grant is awarded under this section.
(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 and in such manner as the Secretary
may require.
(2) Elements.--An application submitted by a nonprofit
entity 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 an
increasing number of service dogs are provided to
veterans.
(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.
(ii) The training of dogs that will serve
as service dogs.
(iii) Any additional support or services
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 have humane standards
for animals.
(vi) 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) Award of Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award a grant to each
nonprofit entity for which the Secretary has approved an
application submitted under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Agreement required.--Before the provision of any grant
amounts to a nonprofit entity selected to receive a grant under
this section, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement,
containing such terms, conditions, and limitations as the
Secretary determines appropriate, with such entity.
(3) Maximum grant amount.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), a grant awarded to a nonprofit entity under this
section may not exceed $2,000,000 in a fiscal year.
(B) Increase of amount.--The Secretary may increase
the amount of a grant awarded under this section in a
fiscal year to an amount that exceeds the amount
specified in subparagraph (A) if--
(i) rising inflation rates or program needs
require an increase in the amount; and
(ii) not later than 30-days before making
such increase, the Secretary submits notice of
such increase in writing to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(4) Payments.--The Secretary shall establish intervals of
payment for the administration of each grant awarded under this
section.
(d) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Requirement.--A recipient of a grant under this
section shall use the grant amounts to plan, develop,
implement, and manage one or more covered programs.
(B) Covered program defined.--In this paragraph,
the term ``covered program'' means a program under
which--
(i) service dogs are provided to
participants in the program; and
(ii) only eligible veterans are allowed to
participate in the program.
(2) Administrative expenses.--The Secretary may establish a
maximum amount for each grant awarded under this section that
may be used by the recipient of the grant to cover
administrative expenses.
(3) Other conditions and limitations.--The Secretary may
establish other conditions or limitations on the use of grant
amounts under this section.
(e) Requirements for Grant Recipients.--
(1) Notifications and information.--A recipient of a grant
under this section shall--
(A) notify each veteran who receives a service dog
through such grant that the service dog is being paid
for, in whole or in part, by the Department of Veterans
Affairs; and
(B) inform each such veteran of the benefits and
services available from the Secretary for the veteran
and the service dog.
(2) Prohibition on certain fees.--A recipient of a grant
under this section may not charge a fee to a veteran receiving
a service dog through such grant.
(f) Veterinary Insurance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall 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.
(g) Training and Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide
training and technical assistance regarding grant application and
administration to recipients of grants under this section.
(h) Oversight and Monitoring.--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) Eligible veteran.--
(A) In general.--The term ``eligible veteran''
means a veteran (as defined in section 101 of title 38,
United States Code) who, as determined by a physician,
has one or more disabilities, conditions, or diagnoses
described in subparagraph (B).
(B) Disability, condition, diagnosis described.--A
disability, condition, or diagnosis described in this
subparagraph is any of the following:
(i) Blindness or visual impairment.
(ii) Loss of use of a limb, paralysis, or
other significant mobility issue.
(iii) Loss of hearing.
(iv) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
(v) Traumatic brain injury.
(vi) 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.
(2) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the
pilot program required by subsection (a)(1).
(3) Service dog.--The term ``service dog'' means any dog
that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks that
are--
(A) for the benefit of a veteran with a disability,
condition, or diagnosis described in paragraph (1)(B);
and
(B) directly related to the disability, condition,
or diagnosis of the veteran.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of the five
consecutive fiscal years beginning the fiscal year in which the pilot
program is established under subsection (a).
Calendar No. 342
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1441
[Report No. 119-113]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to
nonprofit entities to assist such entities in carrying out programs to
provide service dogs to eligible veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
February 24, 2026
Reported with an amendment