Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2023

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. Speaker, I urge everybody to support this fine legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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. 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.

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.

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. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Yakym).

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.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 281, S. 2414.

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.