[118th Congress Public Law 195]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 138 STAT. 2669]]

Public Law 118-195
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
     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. <<NOTE: Dec. 
                        23, 2024 -  [S. 2414]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Working Dog 
Health and Welfare Act of 2023. 5 USC 301 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 
2023''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: Deadlines.>>  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.

[[Page 138 STAT. 2670]]

    (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.

    Approved December 23, 2024.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2414:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENATE REPORTS: No. 118-137 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 170 (2024):
            Jan. 11, considered and passed Senate.
            Dec. 16, considered and passed House.

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