Sioux City Times

Our police and law enforcement officers play a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of our communities. They put their lives on the line every day to protect us from harm and keep our families safe. In addition to their primary duties, they also take care of their K9 partners, who assist them in various tasks such as drug seizures, tracking missing people, and apprehending criminals. These police dogs, or K9s, are invaluable assets in the fight against crime and the fentanyl epidemic.

During my 36 County Tour, I had the opportunity to speak with police and sheriffs across the 4th Congressional District. Through these conversations, I learned that officers often bear the financial burden of routine veterinary visits and other expenses related to their K9 partners. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 40% of the lifetime veterinary expenses for police dogs occur in the last two years of their lives. This means that handlers could expect to spend $5,000 or more on veterinary bills in the final years of a police dog's life. This is an unfair expectation and calls for real solutions.

To address this issue, I have introduced the Honoring Police Officer and K9 Service Act. This legislation aims to provide financial assistance to law enforcement officers for the care and maintenance of their K9s. Specifically, the bill establishes a $5,000,000 grant program within the U.S. Department of Justice to support law enforcement officers with expenses related to active and retired K9s.

Under this initiative, eligible nonprofits that assist owners of former law enforcement K9s will receive grants to cover costs associated with veterinary care, medication, and other medical expenses. To ensure transparency and accountability, grant recipients will be required to submit detailed annual reports outlining how the funds were utilized. The U.S. Attorney General will also compile a joint report of all grant funds and submit it to Congress.

I am pleased to share that this legislation has garnered widespread support from major police and law enforcement organizations across the country. The National Police Dog Foundation, the National Police Association, the National Sheriffs' Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the International Union of Police Associations, and the Major County Sheriffs of America have all expressed their strong endorsement for this bill. They recognize the positive impact it will have on the lives of police K9s and the financial relief it will provide to police departments, allowing them to focus on their core responsibilities of protecting our communities.

Our police officers and their K9 partners work tirelessly to keep us safe. They deserve the resources and support necessary to carry out their duties effectively. By passing the Honoring Police Officer and K9 Service Act, we can ensure that these brave officers and their loyal companions receive the high-quality care they deserve both during their service and in retirement.

As a staunch ally of our law enforcement community, I am committed to standing behind the blue line. This includes supporting our four-legged friends and heroes who play an integral role in maintaining public safety. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our police officers and their K9 partners.

If you have any thoughts or opinions on this matter, I encourage you to reach out to my office at Feenstra.House.Gov or by phone at 202-225-4426. Your input is valuable to me as we work together to support our families, farmers, main street businesses, and rural communities in Congress.

To learn more, click on this link: https://feenstra.house.gov/media/press-releases/my-weekly-column-supporting-our-police-officers-and-their-k9-partners