HR-9327-119
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 0.
Sponsored by David Joyce (R-OH)
What it does
This bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security, through U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to establish within 60 days a pilot program that adopts dogs from local animal shelters to train as support dogs for CBP's existing Support Canine Program. The pilot program would automatically end three years after it starts.
Who benefits
CBP employees who would receive access to trained support dogs, animal shelters that would place dogs through the program, and the shelter dogs themselves who would be adopted rather than remain in shelters or face euthanasia. Dog trainers and canine-program contractors working with CBP could also see modest new business.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully harmed; the program is small in scale and voluntary. CBP's budget would bear modest new administrative and training costs, and taxpayers fund those costs, though the amounts are likely small relative to CBP's overall budget.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that support dogs can help CBP personnel cope with stress and trauma associated with border enforcement work, and that sourcing dogs from local shelters is a low-cost way to expand this benefit while also helping shelter animals find homes. They contend the three-year sunset and pilot structure allow Congress to evaluate results before committing to a permanent program.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that CBP already operates canine programs and that creating a new pilot program adds administrative overhead and training costs without clear evidence that shelter-sourced dogs will meet the specialized requirements of support-dog work. They contend that other CBP priorities, such as staffing and equipment shortages, may be more deserving of new resources than a dog-adoption initiative.