S.1441 - Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025; SAVES Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
S.1441, the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act of 2025 (SAVES Act of 2025), aims to establish a pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This program would award grants to nonprofit entities that provide service dogs to eligible veterans. The bill authorizes $10,000,000 annually for five years to fund the program.
Expected Effects
The bill's enactment would lead to the creation of a grant program facilitating the provision of service dogs to veterans. This will likely improve the quality of life for veterans with disabilities, PTSD, and other conditions. It will also provide funding to non-profit organizations involved in training and providing these service dogs.
Potential Benefits
- Improved quality of life for veterans with disabilities through the assistance of service dogs.
- Increased funding and support for nonprofit organizations that train and provide service dogs.
- Provision of veterinary insurance for service dogs, reducing the financial burden on veterans.
- Enhanced access to benefits and services for veterans and their service dogs through VA notifications.
- Promotion of humane standards for animals through grant requirements.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for administrative overhead in establishing and managing the grant program.
- Risk of inefficient use of funds if nonprofit entities are not properly vetted or monitored.
- Limited scope of the pilot program, potentially leaving some eligible veterans without access to service dogs.
- Possible delays in implementation due to the 24-month timeframe for establishing the pilot program.
- Dependence on continued appropriations for the program's long-term sustainability.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). It also aligns with Congress's power to provide for the common defense and to support veterans (Article I, Section 8). The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).