[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE SUPPORT OUR MILITARY WORKING DOGS ACT

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                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2020

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the ``Support Our 
Military Working Dogs Act'' in commemoration of National K9 Veterans 
Day later this week. The United States K9 Corps was established on 
March 13, 1942. As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on 
Readiness, I want to thank my vice-chairman Congressman Andy Kim (D-NJ) 
for his support as the bill's original cosponsor.
  Military working dogs serve on the front lines with our troops to 
defend our nation and provide recuperating services for our veterans 
and their former handlers. Caring for these dogs in the field and once 
they return home is our responsibility.
  The ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' would ensure that our 
nation's military working dogs receive the best possible care and 
direct the U.S. Department of Defense to work with veterans' service 
organizations and other nonprofits to support their long-term care, 
once adopted by their former handler's into loving homes.
  In 2019, the U.S. special forces raid that led to the death of ISIS 
terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi included an American special 
operations military working dog Belgian Malinois named Conan. During 
the raid, Conan chased al-Baghdadi into a tunnel underneath a compound 
in northern Syria, where he then detonated his suicide vest. During the 
chase, Conan was injured by live electrical wires in the tunnel. Under 
current federal law, the Department of Defense cannot cover the 
veterinary expenses of military working dogs like Conan, when they 
retire from duty or recuperate from injury while adopted.
  The ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' would remove these 
restrictions to authorize the Department of Defense to provide support 
for retired or injured military working dogs after their adoption. The 
bill would also ensure that the U.S. government covers all 
transportation costs associated with transferring retired military 
animals, including horses, to their new adopted homes, building upon 
the success of the Military Working Dog Retirement Act of 2015.
  As chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, which has jurisdiction 
over military working dogs, I urge all our Members of the House to join 
me and Congressman Kim in cosponsoring this important legislation.

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