Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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.

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

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