COVID–19 Warrior Dogs Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3712 To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of using working dogs to detect the early stages of diseases, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 4, 2021 Mr. LIEU introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot pro- gram to determine the effectiveness of using working dogs to detect the early stages of diseases, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19 Warrior 4 Dogs Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:41 Jul 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3712.IH H3712 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3712 IH SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON USE OF WORKING DOGS TO DE- 1 TECT EARLY STAGES OF DISEASES. 2 (a) PILOT PROGRAM.—Not later than 90 days after 3 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 4 Defense shall commence a pilot program to determine the 5 effectiveness of using scent detection working dogs to de- 6 tect the early stages of diseases (including the coronavirus 7 disease 2019 (COVID–19)) and upon detection, to alert 8 the handler of the dog. In carrying out such program, the 9 Secretary shall consider— 10 (1) potential uses for such dogs in screening in- 11 dividuals seeking to access facilities under the juris- 12 diction of the Department of Defense or seeking to 13 access locations frequently used by the public and 14 relevant to public safety; and 15 (2) any other potential uses for such dogs relat- 16 ing to the detection of early stages of diseases, in- 17 cluding uses relating to the management and provi- 18 sion of personal protective equipment and medical 19 testing kits to Department of Defense personnel. 20 (b) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 21 regulations concerning the scope and limitations of the 22 pilot program under subsection (a). Such regulations shall 23 include requirements to ensure that the pilot program is 24 scientifically rigorous. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:41 Jul 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3712.IH H3712 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 3712 IH (c) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the 1 pilot program under subsection (a) for a period of not 2 more than four years. 3 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 4 on which the pilot program under subsection (a) termi- 5 nates, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 6 Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 7 Senate a report on the outcomes of such pilot program. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:41 Jul 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3712.IH H3712 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with BILLS