text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Canine Members of the Armed Forces 
  Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) Each of the Armed Forces and other Government agencies, 
          including the Secret Service, the Central Intelligence Agency, 
          and the Transportation Security Administration, use military 
          working dogs (MWDs) in service to the country.
              (2) Since September 11, 2011, military working dogs have 
          served in Iraq and Afghanistan and have been trained in 
          explosive detection, narcotic detection, sentry, patrol, 
          tracking, and other specific duties.
              (3) Military working dogs, through their training, have 
          prevented injuries and saved the lives of thousands of United 
          States citizens.
              (4) Military working dogs perform critical and varied roles 
          that go far beyond their current designation as ``equipment.''
  
  SEC. 3. RETIREMENT AND ADOPTION OF MILITARY WORKING DOGS.
  
      (a) Retirement and Reclassification of Military Working Dogs.--
  Section 2583 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
              (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 
          (h) and (i), respectively; and
              (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
          subsections:
      ``(f) Classification of Military Working Dogs.--The Secretary of 
  Defense shall classify military working dogs as canine members of the 
  armed forces. Such dogs shall not be classified as equipment.
      ``(g) Transfer of Retired Military Working Dogs.--If the Secretary 
  of the military department concerned determines that a military working 
  dog should be retired, and no suitable adoption is available at the 
  military facility where the dog is located, the Secretary may transfer 
  the dog--
              ``(1) to the 341st Training Squadron; or
              ``(2) to another location for adoption under this 
          section.''.
      (b) Acceptance of Frequent Traveler Miles.--Section 2613(d) of such 
  title is amended--
              (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
          a semicolon;
              (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
          inserting ``; or''; and
              (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
              ``(3) facilitating the adoption of a military working dog 
          under section 2583 of this title.''.
  
  SEC. 4. VETERINARY CARE FOR RETIRED MILITARY WORKING DOGS.
  
      (a) Veterinary Care.--
              (1) In general.--Chapter 50 of title 10, United States 
          Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
          section:
  ``Sec. 993. Military working dogs: veterinary care for retired military 
                working dogs
      ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish and 
  maintain a system to provide for the veterinary care of retired 
  military working dogs.
      ``(b) Eligible Dogs.--(1) A retired military working dog eligible 
  for veterinary care under this section is any military working dog 
  adopted under section 2583 of this title.
      ``(2) The veterinary care provided a military working dog under 
  this section shall be provided during the life of the dog beginning on 
  the date on which the dog is adopted under such section 2583.
      ``(c) Administration.--(1) The Secretary shall administer the 
  system required by this section under a contract awarded by the 
  Secretary for that purpose.
      ``(2)(A) The contract under this subsection shall be awarded to a 
  private non-profit entity selected by the Secretary from among such 
  entities submitting an application therefor that have such experience 
  and expertise as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of 
  this subsection.
      ``(B) An entity seeking the award of a contract under this 
  subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor in 
  such form, and containing such information, as the Secretary shall 
  require.
      ``(3) The term of any contract under this subsection shall be such 
  duration as the Secretary shall specify.
      ``(d) Standards of Care.--(1) The veterinary care provided under 
  the system required by this section shall meet such standards as the 
  Secretary shall establish and from time to time update.
      ``(2) The standards required by this subsection shall include the 
  following:
              ``(A) Provisions regarding the types of care to be provided 
          to retired military working dogs.
              ``(B) Provisions regarding the entities (including private 
          veterinarians and entities) qualified to provide the care.
              ``(C) Provisions regarding the facilities, including 
          military installations, government facilities, and private 
          facilities, in which the care may be provided.
              ``(D) A requirement that complete histories be maintained 
          on the health and use in research of retired military working 
          dogs.
              ``(E) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
          appropriate.
      ``(3) The Secretary shall consult with the board of directors of 
  the non-profit private entity awarded the contract under subsection (c) 
  in establishing and updating standards of care under this subsection.
      ``(e) Coverage of Costs.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
  any costs of operation and administration of the system required by 
  this section, and of any veterinary care provided under the system, 
  shall be covered by such combination of the following as the Secretary 
  and the non-profit entity awarded the contract under subsection (c) 
  jointly consider appropriate:
              ``(A) Contributions from the non-profit entity.
              ``(B) Payments for such care by owners or guardians of the 
          retired military working dogs receiving such care.
              ``(C) Other appropriate non-Federal sources of funds.
      ``(2) Funds provided by the Federal Government--
              ``(A) may not be used--
                      ``(i) to provide veterinary care under the system 
                  required by this section; or
                      ``(ii) to pay for the normal operation of the non-
                  profit entity awarded the contract under subsection 
                  (c); and
              ``(B) may be used to carry out the duties of the Secretary 
          under subsections (a), (c), (d), and (f).
      ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for 
  the discharge of the requirements and authorities in this section, 
  including regulations on the standards of care required by subsection 
  (d).''.
              (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
          beginning of chapter 50 of such title is amended by adding at 
          the end the following new item:
  
  ``993. Military working dogs: veterinary care for retired military 
                              working dogs.''.
      (b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe the 
  regulations required by subsection (f) of section 993 of title 10, 
  United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section), not 
  later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
  
  SEC. 5. RECOGNITION OF SERVICE OF MILITARY WORKING DOGS.
  
      Section 1125 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
              (1) by inserting ``(a) General Authority.--'' before ``The 
          Secretary of Defense''; and
              (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
      ``(b) Recognition of Service of Military Working Dogs.--The 
  Secretary of Defense shall create a decoration or other appropriate 
  recognition to recognize military working dogs under the jurisdiction 
  of the Secretary that are killed in action or perform an exceptionally 
  meritorious or courageous act in service to the United States.''.
target: Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to classify military working dogs as canine members of the Armed Forces. Requires that such dogs no longer be classified as equipment.
  
  Provides that if a dog should be retired, and no suitable adoption is available at the military facility where the dog is located, the dog may transferred to the 341st Training Squadron or to another location for adoption. Authorizes the acceptance of the donation of frequent traveler miles to facilitate the adoption of a dog.
  
  Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a system to provide for the lifetime veterinary care of retired, adopted dogs. Requires the Secretary to administer the system under a contract awarded by the Secretary to a private non-profit entity. Requires such care to meet standards that the Secretary shall establish and periodically update. Requires any costs of the operation and administration of the system and of any veterinary care provided under the system to be covered by such combination of the following as the Secretary and the non-profit entity jointly consider appropriate: (1) contributions from the non-profit entity, (2) payments for such care by owners or guardians of such dogs, and (3) other appropriate non-federal sources of funds. Prohibits the use of federal funds to provide care or operate the system, except for funds used to establish or administer the system, establish standards of care, or prescribe related regulations.
  
  Directs the Secretary to create a decoration or other appropriate recognition to recognize dogs that are killed in action or perform an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in service to the United States.
feat_title: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements relating to the retirement, adoption, care, and recognition of military working dogs, and for other purposes.