IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 43 

Recognizing the honorable service of military working dogs and soldier handlers in the tactical explosive detection dog program of the Army and 

encouraging the Army and other government agencies, including law 

enforcement agencies, with former tactical explosive detection dogs to 

prioritize adoption of the dogs to former tactical explosive detection 

dog handlers. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2019 

Mrs. WALORSKI submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the honorable service of military working dogs 

and soldier handlers in the tactical explosive detection 

dog program of the Army and encouraging the Army 

and other government agencies, including law enforcement agencies, with former tactical explosive detection 

dogs to prioritize adoption of the dogs to former tactical 

explosive detection dog handlers. 

Whereas the 341st Training Squadron, 37th Training Wing 

at Lackland Air Force Base provides highly trained military working dogs to the Department of Defense and 

other government agencies; 


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•HCON 43 IH 

Whereas in 2010, the operational needs of the Army for military working dogs increased without an increase in resources to train a sufficient number of dogs for the detection of improvised explosive devices at the 341st Training 

Squadron; 

Whereas the Army initiated the tactical explosive detection 

dog program in August 2010 as a nontraditional military 

working dog program to train and field improvised explosive device detection dogs for use in Afghanistan as part 

of Operation Enduring Freedom; 

Whereas the tactical explosive detection dog program was created to reduce casualties from improvised explosive devices in response to an increase in the use of asymmetric 

weapons by the enemy; 

Whereas the tactical explosive detection dogs were a unique 

subset of military working dogs because the Army selected and trained soldiers from deploying units to serve 

as temporary handlers for only the duration of deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom; 

Whereas the tactical explosive detection dogs and their soldier 

handlers, like other military working dog and handler 

teams, formed strong bonds while training for combat 

and performing extremely dangerous improvised explosive 

device detection missions in service to the United States; 

Whereas the tactical explosive detection dog program was a 

nontraditional military working dog program that terminated in February 2014; 

Whereas at the termination of the tactical explosive detection 

dog program in February 2014, neither United States 

law nor Department of Defense policy established an 

adoption order priority, and Department of Defense polVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:10 May 23, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC43.IH HC43

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•HCON 43 IH 

icy only provided that military working dogs be adopted 

by former handlers, law enforcement agencies, and other 

persons capable of humanely caring for the animals; 

Whereas an August 2016 report to Congress by the Air 

Force entitled ‘‘Tactical Explosive Detector Dog (TEDD) 

Adoption Report’’ concluded that the Army had a limited 

transition window for the disposition of tactical explosive 

detection dogs and the lack of a formal comprehensive 

plan contributed to the disorganized disposition process 

for the tactical explosive detection dogs; 

Whereas the August 2016 report stated that, in 2014, the 

Army disposed of 229 tactical explosive detection dogs; 

Whereas 40 tactical explosive detection dogs were adopted by 

handlers, 47 dogs were adopted by private individuals, 70 

dogs were transferred to Army units, 17 dogs were transferred to other government agencies, 46 dogs were transferred to law enforcement agencies, and 9 dogs were deceased; 

Whereas the disposition of tactical explosive detection dogs 

was poorly executed, proper procedures outlined in Department of Defense policy were ignored, and, as a result, the former soldier handlers were not provided the 

opportunity to adopt their tactical explosive detection 

dogs; 

Whereas the Army should have deliberately planned for the 

disposition of the tactical explosive detection dogs and 

provided appropriate time to review and consider adoption applications to mitigate handler and civilian adoption 

issues; 

Whereas section 342(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 129 


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•HCON 43 IH 

Stat. 793) amended section 2583(c) of title 10, United 

States Code, to modify the list of persons authorized to 

adopt a military animal and prioritize the list with preference, respectively, to former handlers, other persons capable of humanely caring for the animal, and law enforcement agencies; 

Whereas since 2000, Congress has passed legislation that 

protects military working dogs, promotes their welfare, 

and recognizes the needs of their veteran handlers; 

Whereas Congress continues to provide oversight of military 

working dogs to prevent a reoccurrence of the disposition 

issues that affected tactical explosive detection dogs; 

Whereas former soldier handlers should be reunited with 

their tactical explosive detection dogs; 

Whereas congressional recognition of the military service of 

tactical explosive detection dogs and their former soldier 

handlers is a small measure of gratitude this legislative 

body can convey; 

Whereas over 4 years have passed since the termination of 

the tactical explosive detection dog program; 

Whereas Congressman Walter B. Jones has been a long-time 

advocate for military working dogs and their handlers; 

Whereas Congressman Walter B. Jones has worked to ensure 

that handlers are given priority when their military working dogs reach retirement; 

Whereas Congressman Walter B. Jones was a strong proponent of the Wounded Warrior Service Dog program, 

which is a valuable program that helps wounded members 

of the Armed Forces manage and recover from post-traumatic stress; 


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•HCON 43 IH 

Whereas the advocacy of Congressman Walter B. Jones for 

military working dogs is well known throughout the nonprofit community that supports military working dogs; 

Whereas Congressman Walter B. Jones worked with the Department of Defense and the Senate to update the language in the Air Force Manual on Military Working 

Dogs to clarify that military working dogs are not equipment and to indicates the true level of appreciation and 

respect the Department of Defense has for these valuable 

members of the military team; 

Whereas Congressman Walter B. Jones was the chief legislative sponsor of the Military Working Dog Teams Monument, which was built with no taxpayer dollars but 

through corporate and private donations; and 

Whereas with the support of Congressman Walter B. Jones, 

the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 

2008 (Public Law 110–181) authorized the Burnam 

Foundation to design, fund, build, and maintain the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument: Now, 

therefore, be it— 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) recognizes the efforts of Congressman Wal4 ter B. Jones to promote military working dogs as 

5 unsung heroes on the battlefield and in helping 

6 wounded warriors recover from physical and mental 

7 injuries; 


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1 (2) recognizes the service of military working 

2 dogs and soldier handlers from the tactical explosive 

3 detection dog program; 

4 (3) acknowledges that not all tactical explosive 

5 detection dogs were adopted by their former soldier 

6 handlers; 

7 (4) encourages the Army and other government 

8 agencies, including law enforcement agencies, with 

9 former tactical explosive detection dogs to prioritize 

10 adoption to former tactical explosive detection dog 

11 handlers; and 

12 (5) honors the sacrifices made by tactical explo13 sive detection dogs and their soldier handlers in 

14 combat. 

Æ 


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