[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 186 (Monday, December 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H7210-H7211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WORKING DOG HEALTH AND WELFARE ACT OF 2023
Mr. BURLISON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2414
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 ``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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Burlison) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
General Leave
Mr. BURLISON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
[[Page H7211]]
Mr. BURLISON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2414, the Working Dog Health and
Welfare Act of 2023.
As of February 2022, there are nearly 5,500 working dogs that have
served in the Federal Government. They are tasked with many jobs,
including the detection of explosives, narcotics, and missing persons.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Working Dog Health and Welfare Act, S. 2414,
requires agencies that manage working dog programs to implement
recommendations that were made by the GAO in 2022 to improve the health
and welfare and safety of working dogs.
It would also require any new program to comply with these
recommendations. Agencies and contractors across the government use
working dogs to support critical mission areas, such as law enforcement
and security.
As of February 2022, Federal Government entities employed over 5,600
dogs. They help to detect explosives and narcotics, they conduct
patrols and search and rescue missions, they help detect and apprehend
suspects, and they support wildlife management. However, there is
currently no consensus health and welfare standard that applies to the
management of Federal working dogs.
In its report, GAO identified 18 critical issues important to the
health and welfare of working dogs, which the agencies should address.
That includes recommendations on everything from detection of abuse,
neglect, and emergency medical care, to rest, length of on-duty time,
and then canine retirement.
GAO found that of the 40 Federal working dog programs that are
directly managed by Federal agencies, only 9 addressed all of these
issues as important to the health and welfare of the dogs.
The bill requires all departments, agencies, and contractors managing
working dog programs on behalf of an agency to implement these
recommendations within 6 months of the bill's enactment.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this commonsense bill for
animal welfare and animal rights and for those dogs who work hard in
the Federal Government, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURLISON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Yakym).
Mr. YAKYM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2414, the
Working Dog Health and Welfare Act. I was happy to work with Senator
Braun and be the sponsor of the bipartisan House companion bill, H.R.
6950.
Over 5,500 working dogs perform various tasks in the 40 programs
across the Federal Government. These impressive animals are essential
to the daily operations of law enforcement and to our national defense.
They keep us safe by chasing down criminals and by finding deadly
narcotics. Famously, a Delta Force working dog named Conan heroically
helped neutralize the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in a raid
in Syria back in 2019.
They also help with disaster relief and search and rescue efforts.
These hardworking and heroic canines deserve the best care, but a
government accountability audit found that none of the 40 working dog
programs were satisfactory across all 18 aspects of care.
This legislation is simple. It requires government agencies with
working dog programs to implement the GAO's sensible recommendations
for health and welfare of these remarkable working dogs that are in
their care.
I am very proud to sponsor the House companion bill for this
legislation, and I encourage its passage.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I urge everybody to support this fine
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BURLISON. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill
to protect working dogs within the Federal Government, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Burlison) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 2414.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________