[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 8 (Friday, January 12, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E41]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DOMESTIC EXPLOSIVES DETECTION CANINE CAPACITY BUILDING ACT OF 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2018

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 4577, the 
Domestic Explosives Detection Canine Capacity Building Act of 2017.
  This legislation directs the Transportation Security Administration 
(TSA) to create a work group to explore best practices for developing a 
breeding and training program for explosive detection canines. This 
working group would also determine medical standards, behavioral 
standards, and training standards for the program.
  Currently in the United States, we rely heavily on explosive 
detection canines. They are a vital part of security measures not only 
at airports, but locations across the United States and the world. The 
sensitivity, complexity, and astuteness of a Bomb-sniffing dog's nose 
simply cannot be replicated with modern technology, and they are some 
of our best assets in the fight to protect Americans from acts of 
terror.
  Previously, the TSA oversaw a breeding program to train and produce 
top quality service canines; however, that program was cut from the 
budget in 2012. This has forced the agency to purchase lower quality 
canines abroad at exorbitant prices. In 2017, the TSA oversaw a work 
force of 1,000 dogs and would need to acquire 350 annually to maintain 
these numbers. A New York Times article detailing the problem noted 
that in one of the four trips TSA agents annually make less than half 
of the 110 dogs they might see pass preliminary screening requirements, 
and another 15 to 20 percent fail to complete the agency's training 
program. To put it blandly, we are buying the best dogs our money can 
buy, and they're not good enough. H.R. 4577 is the first step to 
rebuilding the TSA's breeding program and ensuring that the dogs 
protecting our nation's airports and travelers satisfy our standards of 
excellence. This legislation will allow experts to not only determine 
which breeds are best suited for the job, but also which training 
methods are most effective.
  I am particularly concerned with this issue, because Georgia houses 
the busiest airport in the world. Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson airport 
in January of 2017 alone was visited by over 7.5 million passengers and 
played host to over 70,000 different aircrafts. Canines are widely used 
in the daily operations of this airport and a critical part of safety 
operations.
  Additionally, as a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure 
committee, and a former member of the Armed Services committee I have 
long been concerned with issues relating to airport security and the 
safety of passengers who travel through our country. The TSA is an 
agency filled with people who have dedicated their careers to 
protecting Americans and we must provide them with the best tools 
available to do so. Explosive detecting canines are a crucial piece of 
the front line protecting Americans from harm and a necessary part of 
ensuring that all passengers and aircrafts are protected from any 
threat. H.R. 4577 will ensure that the United States can develop a 
program that will produce explosive detection canines that meet our 
standards of excellence and will build a sustainable method for 
ensuring the program's permanence. I support this legislation and I 
urge my colleagues to do the same.