H.R. 1480

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1480 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Beagle Brigade Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL DETECTOR DOG TRAINING CENTER.

(a) In General.--There is established a National Detector Dog 
Training Center (referred to in this Act as the ``Center'').
(b) Duties.--The Center shall have the following duties:
(1) Training dogs for the purpose of safeguarding domestic 
agricultural and natural resources from foreign and invasive 
pests and diseases.
(2) Training human handlers to successfully select and 
train dogs for the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3) Collaborating with relevant Federal agencies, including 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to safeguard domestic 
agricultural and natural resources.
(4) Collaborating with external stakeholders, including 
State departments of agriculture, local and county agricultural 
officials, private sector entities, and other relevant non-
Federal partners.
(5) Ensuring the health and welfare of all dogs under the 
care of the Center, including by ensuring access to necessary 
veterinary care, adequate shelter, and proper nutrition.
(6) Providing opportunities for private adoption of 
retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not complete 
training.
(7) Any other duties necessary to safeguard domestic 
agricultural and natural resources from foreign and invasive 
pests and diseases, as determined by the Secretary of 
Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to any other 
amounts made available for the operation of the Center, there are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service, such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2024, and each 
fiscal year thereafter, for the operation of the Center.

SEC. 3. REPORT.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, shall submit to Congress a 
report that contains--
(1) a description of current and emerging threats to 
domestic agricultural and natural resources from foreign pests 
and diseases within the purview of the operations of the 
Center;
(2) an examination of the role that the Center plays in the 
protection against foreign pests and diseases;
(3) a description of improvements needed in Federal 
programs to minimize threats from foreign pests and diseases 
within the purview of the operations of the Center, including 
strengthened coordination among the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and 
other relevant Federal agencies;
(4) recommendations to strengthen the capabilities of the 
Center in protecting against foreign pests and diseases; and
(5) recommendations to improve--
(A) the dog procurement procedures of the Center; 
and
(B) private adoption opportunities for retirement-
age trained dogs and dogs that do not complete 
training.
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