118 HR 6950 IH: Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2024 U.S. House of Representatives 2024-01-10 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6950IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 10, 2024Mr. Yakym (for himself and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo require agencies with working dog programs to implement the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office relating to the health and welfare of working dogs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2024.

2.

Implementation of working dog recommendations

(a)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Agency

(A)

In general

The term agency has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.(B)

Inclusions

Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) through (D) of section 551(1) of title 5, United States Code, the term agency includes—(i)the Congress;(ii)the courts of the United States;(iii)the governments of the territories or possessions of the United States; and(iv)the government of the District of Columbia.(2)

Working dog

The term working dog means a dog that has received specialized training in order to perform a particular productive function. (3)

Working dog program

The term working dog program means a program, the operations of which include the employment of working dogs.(4)

Working dog recommendations

The term working dog recommendations means the recommendations included in the report of the Government Accountability Office entitled Working Dogs: Federal Agencies Need to Better Address Health and Welfare, as published in October 2022. (b)

Implementation

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each agency that manages a working dog program shall implement the working dog recommendations.(2)

Contractors

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a contractor that manages a working dog program on behalf of an agency shall implement the working dog recommendations.(3)

Report

Not later than 60 days after the date on which the head of an agency or a contractor that manages a working dog program on behalf of a covered agency implements working dog recommendations under this subsection, the head of the agency shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives a report on the explicit steps the agency or contractor has taken to complete the implementation.(c)

Foreign partners

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall take appropriate steps to ensure that donations of working dogs provided to foreign partners by the Department of State are executed and monitored according to the working dog recommendations.(d)

New working dog programs

With respect to an agency that establishes a working dog program, or enters into a contract for the establishment of a working dog program, after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of the agency shall ensure that the working dog program implements the working dog recommendations.