[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1054 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1054

 Recognizing the roles and contributions of military animals and their 
     valiant human handlers for bravery in both war and peace, and 
 acknowledging the importance of creating a process for honoring their 
                  valor and meritorious achievements.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 5, 2024

Ms. Brownley (for herself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Calvert, Mr. 
    Baird, Mr. Veasey, and Mr. Fitzpatrick) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the roles and contributions of military animals and their 
     valiant human handlers for bravery in both war and peace, and 
 acknowledging the importance of creating a process for honoring their 
                  valor and meritorious achievements.

Whereas the history of our Nation needs to comprise the social, economic, 
        cultural, and medical contributions made by military animals and their 
        human handlers, and should include stories of their valor, sacrifices, 
        and meritorious achievements made on behalf of our freedom and safety;
Whereas military animals have made significant contributions to the peace and 
        protection of our United States and were officially recognized by the 
        Quartermaster Corps on March 13, 1942;
Whereas military animals have served in war throughout history and contributed 
        selfless service and bravery by recognizing their historical 
        contributions, including:

    (1) More than 2,200 years ago, African general Hannibal used elephants 
to carry soldiers and weapons. Since that time, while horses, pigeons and 
dogs have been mostly used, a vast array of animals were put into service, 
including camels, mules, donkeys, and llamas. The United States 
experimented with dolphins and sea lions. ``Bomber bats'' were even tested 
during World War II before the hydrogen bomb was completed.

    (2) During World War I, over 8 million horses and mules were killed.

    (3) In 1917, the Army Signal Corps established the Signal Pigeon Corps. 
At its height during World War II, the Signal Pigeon Corps consisted of 
3,000 enlisted members, 150 officers, and 54,000 pigeons, two-thirds of 
which were deployed overseas, with the other 18,000 held in reserves.

    (4) Over 11,500 military working dogs were trained for the home front 
and warfront during World War II.

    (5) Approximately 2,000 military working dogs were sent overseas in 
World War II, an estimated 4,000 military working dogs served in Vietnam 
and an estimated 5,700 military working dogs have served in Afghanistan and 
Iraq since 2006;

Whereas there are currently over 3,000 military working dogs in the United 
        States today, and there is an increasing demand for these military 
        working dogs in the United States as a result of the proven worth and 
        success in their various service and working capacities;
Whereas since September 11, 2001, the 341st Training Squadron of the Air Force 
        has trained approximately 500 military working dogs annually, including 
        274 explosive detection dogs for the Transportation Security 
        Administration, and, according to the Secretary of the Air Force, there 
        are an estimated 2,000 military working dogs deployed worldwide to 
        support the Global War on Terror, helping to safeguard military bases 
        and activities, and to detect bombs and explosives before they inflict 
        harm;
Whereas canines are used today to maintain peace and protection with numerous 
        law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue agencies around the 
        country, and are trained to patrol, apprehend fleeing criminals, and 
        detect narcotics, explosives, weapons, and accelerants, in cases of 
        arson, and used in crime scene evidence detection;
Whereas, according to the United States Police Canine Association, it is 
        estimated that there are approximately 15,000 police canines working 
        today, not including military working dogs, on the Federal, State, 
        county, and local levels of government, in various service and working 
        capacities;
Whereas, according to Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (hereinafter 
        ``SARDUS''), there are approximately 2,000 certified search and rescue 
        teams across the United States, most of them volunteers who work on the 
        local level for police and sheriff's departments, and include wilderness 
        area search dogs, trailing dogs, human remains detection dogs, water 
        search dogs, and avalanche dog teams;
Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency also works with SARDUS and State 
        and local organizations as needed, including 28 national urban search 
        and rescue teams, 369 urban search and rescue dogs with capabilities in 
        live find and human remains detection in a disaster environment, and 66 
        nationally certified State disaster K-9 search teams which respond to 
        in-State requests to disasters or imminent threats, including extreme 
        weather and building collapses;
Whereas the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives manages two 
        separate and distinct canine programs including an Explosive and 
        Accelerant Detection Canine Program and a Special Response Team Tactical 
        Canine Program; the Explosive and Accelerant Detection Canine Program 
        began in 1990 and has trained approximately 1,000 explosive detection 
        canines and 280 accelerant detection canines who work both to prevent 
        explosive incidents and to gather evidence at scenes of arson and 
        explosive-related crimes; the Special Response Team Canine Program began 
        in 2000 and has had 35 different tactical canine teams who participate 
        as part of a tactical team and help apprehend violent criminals across 
        the country;
Whereas, according to the United States Marshals Service (hereinafter ``USMS'') 
        Canine Operations Program, there are 25 K-9 teams supporting USMS 
        missions nationwide today, working as explosive detection canines that 
        provide explosives and firearms detection and countermeasure for USMS 
        protective and investigative missions and supports other Federal, State, 
        and local law enforcement agencies, and tactical canines that are 
        specifically trained for USMS enforcement missions to search and locate 
        suspects;
Whereas since 1943, the United Kingdom has been the only country in the world to 
        honor animals with its international PDSA Dickin Medal, also known as 
        ``the Victoria Cross for Animals'';
Whereas animals that serve in war and peace in the United States are currently 
        not recognized for their acts of gallantry and bravery, and do not have 
        an official medal to honor their distinguished service;
Whereas there is increasing support for the process of a Medal of Bravery and a 
        Distinguished Service Medal for animals and an annual event to recognize 
        such animals who have served valiantly and bravely since World War I;
Whereas the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery was instituted in 2019, and 
        awarded to the inaugural eight recipients on November 14, 2019, at a 
        ceremony attended by dignitaries and Members of Congress, in the 
        District of Columbia, and since then has awarded 20 brave animals with 
        AWP Medals of Bravery and AWP Distinguished Service Medals; and
Whereas a fourth Animals in War & Peace Medal Ceremony is planned for March 6th, 
        2024, that will educate and raise public awareness of seven brave 
        animals and their handlers who served the United States in times of war 
        and peace with three AWP Distinguished Service Medals and three AWP 
        Medals of Bravery: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and thanks the brave military animals and 
        their dedicated and selfless handlers who serve the United 
        States in both war and peace; and
            (2) supports the creation of an annual process to nominate 
        animals for the Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service 
        Medal.
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