[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1575-H1576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DONATING RETIRING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CANINES TO HANDLERS

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 173) to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services 
Act of 1949 to authorize donation of surplus Federal law enforcement 
canines to their handlers, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 173

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION TO DONATE SURPLUS LAW ENFORCEMENT 
                   CANINES TO THEIR HANDLERS.

       Section 203 of the Federal Property and Administrative 
     Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 484) is amended by adding at 
     the end of the following:
       ``(r) The head of a Federal agency having control of a 
     canine that has been used by a Federal agency in the 
     performance of law enforcement duties and that has been 
     determined by the agency to be no longer needed for official 
     purposes may donate the canine to an individual who has 
     experience handling canines in the performance of those 
     duties.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Horn] and the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Maloney] 
will each control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Horn].
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, this measure concerns Federal surplus property 
in the form of dogs. Typically, these dogs are trained in law 
enforcement and drug interdiction. The bulk of the 500 dogs currently 
serving the Federal Government are used by the Customs Service, the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service, and other law enforcement 
agencies.
  Under current law, when an agency no longer needs a dog, it is 
screened to see if another Federal agency needs that dog. If no Federal 
use is required, the dog can be donated to a State or local law 
enforcement agency.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the minority has no objection to this bill. We support 
it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Gallegly], the author of this innovative 
piece of legislation,
  (Mr. GALLEGLY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 173, 
legislation I introduced to address the unique situation encountered 
when Federal law enforcement canines are no longer able to perform the 
duties for which they were trained.
  Essentially, this bill streamlines the adoption of Federal law 
enforcement canines by handlers and allows for a more humane end to the 
canine's career. As my colleagues know, these trained dogs are 
considered Federal property, but when their service comes to an end, 
they are declared surplus property.
  Under GSA regulations to dispose of Federal property, agencies must 
follow certain procedures that ensure the maximum amount competition 
for the purchase of such property.
  In many cases, such as the Border Patrol, Park Police, Customs, and 
Secret Service, this surplus property is a

[[Page H1576]]

canine that has served alongside officers enforcing our laws. Because 
of their unique role, many of these animals have had protection 
training, which could make them a danger to public safety if they are 
handled by someone who had not been trained in this capacity.
  As a result, these canines should not simply be sold to the highest 
bidder at an auction to be taken home as a family pet. Unfortunately, 
if no appropriate trained handler comes forward to bid on the property, 
there is a possibility that this dog would be caged or even in some 
cases destroyed.
  This is hardly humane, a hardly humane treatment of an animal that 
has spent its life protecting Americans and upholding our laws.

                              {time}  1415

  According to the CRS research, there are over 500 canines in service 
of the Federal Government. H.R. 173 would allow the surplus canines to 
be donated to their handlers, who would thereby assume all the costs 
and responsibilities related to the care of that animal.
  This is a simple solution to a unique problem that confronts our 
Federal law enforcement canine units. H.R. 173 removes the hoops 
agencies must jump through to place a canine that has served our 
country with a handler and a nurturing home.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Horn] 
and the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] and the committee's action 
on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 173 to ease the 
adoption of Federal law enforcement canines.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Horn] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 173, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend 
the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to 
authorize donation of Federal law enforcement canines that are no 
longer needed for official purposes to individuals with experience 
handling canines in the performance of law enforcement duties.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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