[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15518]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     PENALTIES FOR HARMING ANIMALS USED IN FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1791, and 
the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1791) to amend title 18, United States Code, 
     to provide for penalties for harming animals used in Federal 
     law enforcement.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I am proud to support H.R. 1791, the Federal 
Law Enforcement Animal Protection Act, a bill by Representative Weller 
which would make it a federal crime to willfully and maliciously harm 
an animal used by a Federal agency for the principal purpose of 
investigating crimes, enforcing laws, or apprehending criminals.
  I would first like to thank Senator Hatch for his help in discharging 
this important bill from Committee. I would also like to thank the 
advocacy groups and agencies, most notably, the Humane Society of the 
U.S., U.S. Police Canine Association, U.S. Customs Service, U.S. Border 
Patrol, and our very own Capital Police, for helping to publicize the 
need for legislation to protect federal law enforcement animals.
  I was pleased when Representative Weller called me and asked for my 
support of H.R. 1791. Under current law, a person who willfully injures 
a federal law enforcement animal can only be punished under the statute 
that makes it a crime to damage federal property.
  Unfortunately, many of these animals have a monetary value of less 
than a $1,000, even though their training can cost up to $20,000, so 
the act of willfully harming them can only be prosecuted as a 
misdemeanor. H.R. 1791 will address this problem and punish willful and 
malicious harm done to these animals more severely than an act of 
damage to an inanimate object.
  This bill is important for law enforcement. These animals play an 
integral role in protecting our borders, airports and our own capital 
grounds. In fiscal year 1999, U.S. Customs Canine Enforcement Teams 
were involved in over 11,000 narcotic or currency seizures. The street 
value of the narcotics uncovered by the canines exceeded several 
billion dollars. The dogs detected approximately 631,909 pounds of 
marijuana, 50,748 pounds of cocaine, 358 pounds of heroin, and $25.5 
million in currency. H.R. 1791 would put federal law enforcement 
animals on equal ground with local law enforcement animals that are 
protected in 27 states, including my own state of Arizona.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1791) was read the third time and passed.

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