I
118THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 1480
To authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH9, 2023
Mr. B
ISHOPof Georgia (for himself, Mr. FERGUSON, Mr. KILDEE, and Mr.
S
MITHof 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) I
NGENERAL.—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) A
UTHORIZATION 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