[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 10, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORT OUR MILITARY WORKING DOGS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 2021

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce 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.
  Military working dogs serve with our troops on the front lines 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 (DOD) to work 
with veterans' service organizations and other nonprofits to support 
their long-term veterinary care, once adopted by their former handler's 
into loving homes.
  Specifically, the ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' would 
authorize DOD to provide charitable support for retired or injured 
military working dogs after their adoption, by coordinating third-party 
donations to cover the cost of long-term veterinary care. 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.
  Lastly, the bill for this Congress includes a new provision 
clarifying that DOD's Joint Trauma Education and Training Directorate 
may also conduct research on the treatment and avoidance of injuries 
for military working dogs. Former Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-LA) 
sponsored this provision as an amendment to the House-passed ``National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021,'' but it was ultimately 
removed during conference negotiations with the Senate. I am pleased to 
include this much-needed clarification in my bill.
  As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, 
which has jurisdiction over military working dogs, I urge all members 
of the House to join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. 
Congress must support our K9 veterans during and after their service.

                          ____________________