What This Bill Does
This bill creates a new National Detector Dog Training Center to train dogs and their human handlers to detect foreign pests and diseases that could harm American farms and natural resources. The Center will work with federal agencies, state agriculture departments, and other partners to protect domestic agricultural and natural resources.
Who It Affects
The Secretary of Agriculture and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will operate and oversee the Center. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will collaborate with the Center. State departments of agriculture, local and county agricultural officials, and private sector entities will also work with the Center. Dogs in the program and people who might adopt retired dogs are affected.
Key Provisions
- The Center trains dogs to detect foreign and invasive pests and diseases threatening domestic agricultural and natural resources (Sec. 2(b)(1))
- The Center trains human handlers to select and train dogs for this purpose (Sec. 2(b)(2))
- The Center must ensure the health and welfare of all dogs under its care, including veterinary care, adequate shelter, and proper nutrition (Sec. 2(b)(5))
- The Center must provide opportunities for private adoption of retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not complete training (Sec. 2(b)(6))
- The Secretary of Agriculture must submit a report to Congress within one year describing threats to agricultural resources, the Center's role in protection, needed improvements, and recommendations to strengthen the Center (Sec. 3)
What Changes
If this becomes law, a new Center will be established with funding available starting in fiscal year 2024 and continuing each year after. The federal government will formally authorize training detector dogs to safeguard American agriculture and natural resources.
Important Definitions
The bill refers to the National Detector Dog Training Center simply as "the Center." The bill does not define other key terms.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1480
To authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 9, 2023
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia (for himself, Mr. FERGUSON, Mr. KILDEE, and Mr.
SMITH of Nebraska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center,
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 ‘‘Beagle Brigade Act
4
of 2023’’.
5
SEC. 2. NATIONAL DETECTOR DOG TRAINING CENTER.
6
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a National
7
Detector Dog Training Center (referred to in this Act as
8
the ‘‘Center’’).
9
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:47 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1480.IH
H1480
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2
•HR 1480 IH
(b) DUTIES.—The Center shall have the following du-
1
ties:
2
(1) Training dogs for the purpose of safe-
3
guarding domestic agricultural and natural resources
4
from foreign and invasive pests and diseases.
5
(2) Training human handlers to successfully se-
6
lect and train dogs for the purpose described in
7
paragraph (1).
8
(3) Collaborating with relevant Federal agen-
9
cies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
10
to safeguard domestic agricultural and natural re-
11
sources.
12
(4) Collaborating with external stakeholders, in-
13
cluding State departments of agriculture, local and
14
county agricultural officials, private sector entities,
15
and other relevant non-Federal partners.
16
(5) Ensuring the health and welfare of all dogs
17
under the care of the Center, including by ensuring
18
access to necessary veterinary care, adequate shelter,
19
and proper nutrition.
20
(6) Providing opportunities for private adoption
21
of retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not
22
complete training.
23
(7) Any other duties necessary to safeguard do-
24
mestic agricultural and natural resources from for-
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:47 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1480.IH
H1480
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3
•HR 1480 IH
eign and invasive pests and diseases, as determined
1
by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the
2
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health In-
3
spection Service.
4
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
5
tion to any other amounts made available for the operation
6
of the Center, there are authorized to be appropriated to
7
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Adminis-
8
trator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
9
such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2024, and each
10
fiscal year thereafter, for the operation of the Center.
11
SEC. 3. REPORT.
12
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
13
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through
14
the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspec-
15
tion Service, shall submit to Congress a report that con-
16
tains—
17
(1) a description of current and emerging
18
threats to domestic agricultural and natural re-
19
sources from foreign pests and diseases within the
20
purview of the operations of the Center;
21
(2) an examination of the role that the Center
22
plays in the protection against foreign pests and dis-
23
eases;
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:47 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1480.IH
H1480
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4
•HR 1480 IH
(3) a description of improvements needed in
1
Federal programs to minimize threats from foreign
2
pests and diseases within the purview of the oper-
3
ations of the Center, including strengthened coordi-
4
nation among the Animal and Plant Health Inspec-
5
tion Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
6
and other relevant Federal agencies;
7
(4) recommendations to strengthen the capabili-
8
ties of the Center in protecting against foreign pests
9
and diseases; and
10
(5) recommendations to improve—
11
(A) the dog procurement procedures of the
12
Center; and
13
(B) private adoption opportunities for re-
14
tirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not
15
complete training.
16
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:47 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1480.IH
H1480
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB