FETCH Act of 2026
Police Dogs: Federal Funding for K9 Units
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the use of funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for police dog programs, and for other purposes.
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has been sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary for review. No further actions or hearings have been scheduled at this time. It is considered active but has not yet moved beyond the initial committee assignment.
Part of: story →Legislative Progress
While supporting police dogs is generally popular, this bill currently only has Republican sponsors and most bills introduced in the House do not make it to a final vote.
Key Points
- This bill allows local police departments to use federal grant money specifically for their K9 units. Currently, these grants cover many areas of law enforcement, but this change would explicitly include police dogs.
- The money could be used to buy new dogs and pay for their training in tasks like finding drugs or explosives. It also covers basic needs like food, vitamins, and protective vests to keep the animals safe on the job.
- Police departments could use the funds for veterinary care, including emergency visits and regular checkups. It even allows for insurance to cover the costs if a dog is injured or dies while serving.
- The bill helps officers who take their police dogs home by providing stipends for their care. It also covers costs for the dogs after they retire, such as medical bills for long term injuries and help with the adoption process.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the use of funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for police dog programs, and for other purposes.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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