H.R. 4057

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4057 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

Union Calendar No. 266
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4057

[Report No. 119-312]

To establish a pilot program on home kenneling of canines for U.S. 
Customs and Border Protections Office of Field Operations, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 20, 2025

Mr. Correa (for himself, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mrs. McIver, and 
Mr. Luttrell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Homeland Security

September 26, 2025

Additional sponsors: Mr. Kennedy of New York, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. 
Pallone, Mr. Lawler, Ms. Pou, and Mr. Nunn of Iowa

September 26, 2025

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a pilot program on home kenneling of canines for U.S. 
Customs and Border Protections Office of Field Operations, 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 ``CBP Canine Home Kenneling Pilot 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON CANINE HOME KENNELING PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Executive Assistant Commissioner of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) 
shall establish a canine home kenneling pilot program (in this section 
referred to as the ``pilot program'') to assess whether canine home 
kenneling would benefit the OFO, including both canine handlers and 
canines.
(b) Guidance.--
(1) In general.--Prior to establishing the pilot program, 
the Executive Assistant Commissioner shall distribute written 
guidance for Field Offices of OFO to use while implementing the 
pilot program.
(2) Consultation.--In developing the guidance referred to 
in paragraph (1), the Executive Assistant Commissioner shall 
consult with the following entities:
(A) Components of the Department of Homeland 
Security that utilize home kenneling.
(B) The Office of Health Security of the Department 
of Homeland Security.
(C) Representatives of the National Treasury 
Employees Union.
(c) Training.--Prior to establishing the pilot program, the 
Executive Assistant Commissioner shall carry out the following:
(1) Establish training for canine handlers participating in 
the pilot program to take full responsibility of a canine's 
daily care, including feeding, exercise, and medical needs.
(2) Disseminate best practices for the integration of a 
working canine into the canine handler's residence.
(d) Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Executive 
Assistant Commissioner shall carry out the following:
(1) Ensure that not fewer than ten ports of entry 
participate in the pilot program.
(2) Ensure that canines assigned to seaports, airports, and 
land ports of entry in both urban and rural locations 
participate in the pilot program.
(3) Provide for the participation of canine handlers on a 
voluntary basis.
(4) Continue the pilot program for a period of not less 
than two years.
(5) Terminate the pilot program not more than three years 
after the establishment of the pilot program.
(e) Briefing and Report to Congress.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Executive Assistant Commissioner 
shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a 
briefing describing the guidance, training, and requirements 
for the pilot program.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the termination 
of the pilot program, the Executive Assistant Commissioner 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
report that includes the following:
(A) Information relating to the number and location 
of participating canine teams.
(B) Findings of the pilot program, including a 
cost-benefit, job performance, health, and wellbeing 
analysis comparing use of home kenneling with 
centralized kenneling practices.
(C) Recommendations regarding the continued use of 
home kenneling for CBP Office of Field Operations.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security in the House 
of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs in the Senate.
(2) Home kenneling.--The term ``home kenneling'' means the 
practice whereby canines used for Federal law enforcement 
purposes are housed and cared for at the residences of their 
assigned handlers instead of a centralized facility owned or 
contracted by a Federal agency.
Union Calendar No. 266

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4057

[Report No. 119-312]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a pilot program on home kenneling of canines for U.S. 
Customs and Border Protections Office of Field Operations, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

September 26, 2025

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed