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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9675 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9675

  To delay the application of a certain rule for members of the Armed 
Forces stationed in a foreign country and for individuals with service 
                    animals, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2024

   Mr. Armstrong (for himself, Mrs. Peltola, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Tony 
 Gonzales of Texas, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Steube, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Carson, and 
 Mr. Kennedy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To delay the application of a certain rule for members of the Armed 
Forces stationed in a foreign country and for individuals with service 
                    animals, 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 ``Homeward Bound Act''.

SEC. 2. DELAYED APPLICATION OF RULE RELATING TO IMPORTING DOGS FOR 
              MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, DIPLOMATS SERVING IN A 
              FOREIGN COUNTRY, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SERVICE ANIMALS.

    (a) In General.--The rule entitled ``Control of Communicable 
Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Importation of Dogs and Cats'' published 
by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal Register 
on May 13, 2024, (89 Fed. Reg. 41726 et seq.) shall not be applied 
until the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of 
this Act with respect to--
            (1) any covered individual seeking to import a dog from a 
        low-risk country for rabies (as defined by the Secretary); and
            (2) any individual seeking to import a service animal from 
        such a low-risk country.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered individual.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``covered individual'' 
                means--
                            (i) a member of the Armed Forces who is 
                        stationed in a foreign country; and
                            (ii) any individual serving as personnel at 
                        a United States diplomatic or consular post.
                    (B) Inclusion.--Such term includes a family member 
                stationed in the same location as the individual 
                described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A).
            (2) Service animal.--The term ``service animal'' has the 
        meaning given such term in part 37.3 of title 49, Code of 
        Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).

SEC. 3. REVISING RULE RELATING TO IMPORTING DOGS.

    Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall revise part 71 
of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations--
            (1) to allow individuals to import into the United States, 
        at any port of entry, from a low-risk country for rabies (as 
        defined by the Secretary), dogs of any age; and
            (2) in the case of an individual seeking to import a dog 
        from such a country that was born before the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, to not require such dog to be 
        microchipped as a condition on that importation.

SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF 
              AGRICULTURE.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the authority 
of the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce any provision of law over 
which the Secretary of Agriculture has jurisdiction.
                                 <all>
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