[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WORKING DOG HEALTH AND WELFARE ACT OF 2023

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 281, S. 2414.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2414) to require agencies with working dog 
     programs to implement the recommendations of the Government 
     Accountability Office relating to the health and welfare of 
     working dogs, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Working Dog Health and 
     Welfare Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKING DOG RECOMMENDATIONS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
       (2) Working dog.--The term ``working dog'' means a dog that 
     has received specialized training in order to perform a 
     particular productive function.
       (3) Working dog program.--The term ``working dog program'' 
     means a program, the operations of which include the 
     employment of working dogs.
       (4) Working dog recommendations.--The term ``working dog 
     recommendations'' means the recommendations included in the 
     report of the Government Accountability Office entitled 
     ``Working Dogs: Federal Agencies Need to Better Address 
     Health and Welfare'', as published in October 2022.
       (b) Implementation.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the head of each agency that manages a 
     working dog program shall implement the working dog 
     recommendations.
       (2) Contractors.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, a contractor that manages a working 
     dog program on behalf of an agency shall implement the 
     working dog recommendations.
       (3) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which 
     the head of an agency or a contractor that manages a working 
     dog program on behalf of an agency implements the working dog 
     recommendations under this subsection, the head of the agency 
     shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives 
     a report on the explicit steps the agency or contractor has 
     taken to complete the implementation.
       (c) Foreign Partners.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
     take appropriate steps to ensure that donations of working 
     dogs provided to foreign partners by the Department of State 
     are executed and monitored according to the working dog 
     recommendations.
       (d) New Working Dog Programs.--With respect to an agency 
     that establishes a working dog program, or enters into a 
     contract for the establishment of a working dog program, 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of the 
     agency shall ensure that the working dog program implements 
     the working dog recommendations.
       (e) No Additional Funds.--No additional funds are 
     authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out 
     this Act.

  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be 
considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was 
agreed to.
  The bill (S. 2414), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

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