[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 173 (Thursday, November 21, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BEAGLE BRIGADE ACT OF 2023

  Mr. HELMY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be discharged from 
further consideration of S. 759 and that the Senate proceed to its 
immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 759) to authorize the National Detector Dog 
     Training Center, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. HELMY. I ask unanimous consent that the bill 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 bill (S. 759) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed as follows:

                                 S. 759

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Beagle Brigade Act of 
     2023''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL DETECTOR DOG TRAINING CENTER.

       (a) In General.--There is established a National Detector 
     Dog Training Center (referred to in this Act as the 
     ``Center'').
       (b) Duties.--The Center shall have the following duties:
       (1) Training dogs for the purpose of safeguarding domestic 
     agricultural and natural resources from foreign and invasive 
     pests and diseases.
       (2) Training human handlers to successfully select and 
     train dogs for the purpose described in paragraph (1).
       (3) Collaborating with relevant Federal agencies, including 
     U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to safeguard domestic 
     agricultural and natural resources.
       (4) Collaborating with external stakeholders, including 
     State departments of agriculture, local and county 
     agricultural officials, private sector entities, and other 
     relevant non-Federal partners.
       (5) Ensuring the health and welfare of all dogs under the 
     care of the Center, including by ensuring access to necessary 
     veterinary care, adequate shelter, and proper nutrition.
       (6) Providing opportunities for private adoption of 
     retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not complete 
     training.
       (7) Any other duties necessary to safeguard domestic 
     agricultural and natural resources from foreign and invasive 
     pests and diseases, as determined by the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Animal 
     and Plant Health Inspection Service.

     SEC. 3. REPORT.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
     Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
     Service, shall submit to Congress a report that contains--
       (1) a description of current and emerging threats to 
     domestic agricultural and natural resources from foreign 
     pests and diseases within the purview of the operations of 
     the Center;
       (2) an examination of the role that the Center plays in the 
     protection against foreign pests and diseases;
       (3) a description of improvements needed in Federal 
     programs to minimize threats from foreign pests and diseases 
     within the purview of the operations of the Center, including 
     strengthened coordination among the Animal and Plant Health 
     Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and 
     other relevant Federal agencies;
       (4) recommendations to strengthen the capabilities of the 
     Center in protecting against foreign pests and diseases; and
       (5) recommendations to improve--
       (A) the dog procurement procedures of the Center; and
       (B) private adoption opportunities for retirement-age 
     trained dogs and dogs that do not complete training.

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