I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6950 

To require agencies with working dog programs to implement the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office relating to the 

health and welfare of working dogs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 10, 2024 

Mr. YAKYM (for himself and Ms. TITUS) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in 

addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require agencies with working dog programs to implement 

the recommendations of the Government Accountability 

Office relating to the health and welfare of working 

dogs, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Working Dog Health 

5 and Welfare Act of 2024’’. 

2 

•HR 6950 IH

1 SEC. 2. IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKING DOG REC2 OMMENDATIONS. 

3 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

4 (1) AGENCY.— 

5 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has 

6 the meaning given the term in section 551 of 

7 title 5, United States Code. 

8 (B) INCLUSIONS.—Notwithstanding sub9 paragraphs (A) through (D) of section 551(1) 

10 of title 5, United States Code, the term ‘‘agen11 cy’’ includes— 

12 (i) the Congress; 

13 (ii) the courts of the United States; 

14 (iii) the governments of the territories 

15 or possessions of the United States; and 

16 (iv) the government of the District of 

17 Columbia. 

18 (2) WORKING DOG.—The term ‘‘working dog’’ 

19 means a dog that has received specialized training in 

20 order to perform a particular productive function. 

21 (3) WORKING DOG PROGRAM.—The term 

22 ‘‘working dog program’’ means a program, the oper23 ations of which include the employment of working 

24 dogs. 

25 (4) WORKING DOG RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 

26 term ‘‘working dog recommendations’’ means the 

3 

•HR 6950 IH

1 recommendations included in the report of the Gov2 ernment Accountability Office entitled ‘‘Working 

3 Dogs: Federal Agencies Need to Better Address 

4 Health and Welfare’’, as published in October 2022. 

5 (b) IMPLEMENTATION.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

7 after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of 

8 each agency that manages a working dog program 

9 shall implement the working dog recommendations. 

10 (2) CONTRACTORS.—Not later than 180 days 

11 after the date of enactment of this Act, a contractor 

12 that manages a working dog program on behalf of 

13 an agency shall implement the working dog rec14 ommendations. 

15 (3) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the 

16 date on which the head of an agency or a contractor 

17 that manages a working dog program on behalf of 

18 a covered agency implements working dog rec19 ommendations under this subsection, the head of the 

20 agency shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 

21 Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 

22 and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 

23 of the House of Representatives a report on the ex24 plicit steps the agency or contractor has taken to 

25 complete the implementation. 

4 

•HR 6950 IH

1 (c) FOREIGN PARTNERS.—Not later than 180 days 

2 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

3 State shall take appropriate steps to ensure that donations 

4 of working dogs provided to foreign partners by the De5 partment of State are executed and monitored according 

6 to the working dog recommendations. 

7 (d) NEW WORKING DOG PROGRAMS.—With respect 

8 to an agency that establishes a working dog program, or 

9 enters into a contract for the establishment of a working 

10 dog program, after the date of enactment of this Act, the 

11 head of the agency shall ensure that the working dog pro12 gram implements the working dog recommendations. 

Æ