Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007

Floor Speech

RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 2007

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. One of the main reasons is we don't have the capacity domestically to breed these dogs. Of the dogs that we use in TSA now, about 420, only about 15 percent, are bred in the domestic program here. We have to go overseas to European sources for these dogs because you can't just use any kind of dogs. They have to have particular breeds that have skill sets and the ability to sniff a variety of not only drugs but explosives, and we can't get them domestically.

And I find it odd that I am on the other side of this issue because I am the one that is usually criticized for advocating more contracting out. But the fact is domestically we just do not have the capacity to provide these dogs that we need in TSA or in other areas, CBP, Secret Service or in DOD. DOD is obtaining the majority of its dogs from European sources as well. I think that is unacceptable as Americans.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. The interesting thing about TSA, I have been over to, the last couple of years, most of the breeding and training programs for canines in this country. And the interesting thing about TSA is they have the most stellar breeding program because they are genetically breeding a dog that is particularly useful in transportation settings at detecting explosives and being on its feet for long periods of time.

The contractors you are talking about, you can buy dogs in this country. Not the breeds that we need. That is the problem. If we could, I would be on your side of this amendment. We can't. That is why currently we are obtaining over 80 percent of our dogs from European sources. And they are private sources, by the way.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Chairman, I do want to go back to one question the gentleman from Arizona had, and that was the cost. Roughly, we are spending about $500,000 on this TSA breeding and training program. It trains about 50 dogs a year now. It can double that capacity with this.

This breeding is very important, particularly at this facility because it is on the cutting edge. I would urge this Congress to recognize how significant it is that we are able to produce this kind of dog here, and I would tell you that I have also been a big advocate on the DOD side as well of our trying to create more breeding programs domestically. I would like to see them be private, frankly, but we don't have that capacity right now that can put the standard of quality of dogs out that we need so that we don't have to rely on foreign sources for these dogs. Because I can assure you we are not getting the first quality and the quantity that we need.

So I would urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment. It is truly a matter of national security both in TSA and I think in DOD.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source