Domestic Explosives Detection Canine Capacity Building Act of 2017

Summary: Domestic Explosives Detection Canine Capacity Building Act of 2017 (Sec. 3) This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a working group to determine ways to develop a decentralized domestic canine breeding network to produce high quality explosives detection canines and modernize canine training standards. The working group shall be comprised of representatives from the TSA, the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), national domestic canine associations with expertise in breeding and pedigree, universities with expertise related to explosives detection canines and canine breeding, and domestic canine breeders and vendors.  The working group shall submit to the TSA preliminary behavioral standards, medical standards, and technical standards for the domestic canine breeding network and canine training, including recommendations on how the TSA can engage stakeholders to further the development of such network and training. The TSA shall submit a strategy for expanding the network based on such recommendations. The TSA, in developing the strategy, must consult with other DHS officials to incorporate mission needs across DHS for an expanded domestic explosives detection canine breeding network that can be leveraged to help meet DHS's operational needs. The working group shall terminate two years after submitting the strategy. (Sec. 4) The TSA shall issue baseline behavioral standards, medical standards, and technical standards for explosives detection canines. Such standards shall be incorporated into all statements of work for the TSA explosives detection canine contracts and reflect the detection capabilities required to effectively mitigate terrorist threats. (Sec. 5) The requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the working group.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Domestic Explosives Detection Canine 
Capacity Building Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Behavioral standards.--The term ``behavioral 
        standards'' means standards for the evaluation of explosives 
        detection working canines for certain factors, including canine 
        temperament, work drive, suitability for training, 
        environmental factors used in evaluations, and canine 
        familiarity with natural or man-made surfaces or working 
        conditions relevant to the canine's expected work area.
            (2) Medical standards.--The term ``medical standards'' 
        means standards for the evaluation of explosives detection 
        working canines for certain factors, including canine health, 
        management of heredity health conditions, breeding practices, 
        genetics, pedigree, and long-term health tracking.
            (3) Technical standards.--The term ``technical standards'' 
        means standards for the evaluation of explosives detection 
        working canines for certain factors, including canine search 
        techniques, handler-canine communication, detection testing 
        conditions and logistics, and learned explosive odor libraries.

SEC. 3. DOMESTIC CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
through the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration, shall establish a working group to determine ways to 
develop a decentralized domestic canine breeding network to produce 
high quality explosives detection canines and modernize canine training 
standards.
    (b) Working Group Composition.--The working group established under 
subsection (a) shall be comprised of representatives from the 
following:
            (1) The Transportation Security Administration.
            (2) The Science and Technology Directorate of the 
        Department of Homeland Security.
            (3) National domestic canine associations with expertise in 
        breeding and pedigree.
            (4) Universities with expertise related to explosives 
        detection canines and canine breeding.
            (5) Domestic canine breeders and vendors.
    (c) Chairpersons.--The Administrator for the Transportation 
Security Administration shall approve of two individuals from among the 
representatives of the working group specified in subsection (b) to 
serve as the Chairpersons of the working group. One such Chairperson 
shall be from the entities specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such 
subsection, and the other such Chairperson shall be from the entities 
specified in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of such subsection.
    (d) Preliminary Standards and Recommendations.--Not later than 180 
days after the establishment of the working group under subsection (a), 
such working group shall submit to the Administrator of the 
Transportation Security Administration preliminary behavioral 
standards, medical standards, and technical standards for the domestic 
canine breeding network and canine training described in such 
subsection, including recommendations on how the Transportation 
Security Administration can engage stakeholders to further the 
development of such network and training.
    (e) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after submission of 
recommendations to the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration under subsection (c), the Administrator shall submit to 
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
strategy for expanding the domestic canine breeding network described 
in subsection (a), based on such recommendations.
    (f) Consultation.--In developing the strategy required under 
subsection (e), the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall consult with the Under Secretary for Science and 
Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, the Commissioner for 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Director of the United States 
Secret Service, and the heads of other Department of Homeland Security 
components determined appropriate by the Administrator to incorporate, 
to the extent practicable, mission needs across the Department for an 
expanded domestic explosives detection canine breeding network that can 
be leveraged to help meet the Department's operational needs.
    (g) Sunset.--The working group established under subsection (a) 
shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the submission of the 
strategy required under subsection (e).

SEC. 4. ACQUIRING BASELINE CAPACITY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the submission of 
recommendations to the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration under section 3, the Administrator shall issue baseline 
behavioral standards, medical standards, and technical standards for 
explosives detection canines.
    (b) Standards.--The baseline behavioral standards, medical 
standards, and technical standards referred to in subsection (a) shall 
be incorporated, as appropriate, into all statements of work for the 
Transportation Security Administration explosives detection canine 
contracts and reflect the detection capabilities required to 
effectively mitigate terrorist threats. Such standards may be revised 
by the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, as 
necessary.

SEC. 5. NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.

    The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply 
to the working group established under this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives January 9, 2018.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.