II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4205 

To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

to establish a working group relating to best practices and Federal 

guidance for animals in emergencies and disasters, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 12, 2022 

Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. PORTMAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency to establish a working group relating to best practices and Federal guidance for animals 

in emergencies and disasters, 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 ‘‘Planning for Animal 

5 Wellness Act’’ or the ‘‘PAW Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP GUIDELINES. 

7 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis2 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 

3 Emergency Management Agency. 

4 (2) WORKING GROUP.—The term ‘‘working 

5 group’’ means the advisory working group estab6 lished under subsection (b). 

7 (b) WORKING GROUP.—Not later than 180 days after 

8 the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 

9 establish an advisory working group. 

10 (c) MEMBERSHIP.—The working group shall consist 

11 of— 

12 (1) not less than 2 representatives of State gov13 ernments with experience in animal emergency man14 agement; 

15 (2) not less than 2 representatives of local gov16 ernments with experience in animal emergency man17 agement; 

18 (3) not less than 2 representatives from aca19 demia; 

20 (4) not less than 2 veterinary experts; 

21 (5) not less than 2 representatives from non22 profit organizations working to address the needs of 

23 households pets and service animals in emergencies 

24 or disasters; 


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1 (6) representatives from the Federal Animal 

2 Emergency Management Working Group; and 

3 (7) any other members determined necessary by 

4 the Administrator. 

5 (d) DUTIES.—The working group shall— 

6 (1) encourage and foster collaborative efforts 

7 among individuals and entities working to address 

8 the needs of household pets, service and assistance 

9 animals, and captive animals, as appropriate, in 

10 emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and 

11 recovery; and 

12 (2) review best practices and Federal guidance, 

13 as of the date of enactment of this Act, on con14 gregate and noncongregate sheltering and evacuation 

15 planning relating to the needs of household pets, 

16 service and assistance animals, and captive animals, 

17 as appropriate, in emergency and disaster prepared18 ness, response, and recovery. 

19 (e) GUIDANCE DETERMINATION.—Not later than 1 

20 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the working 

21 group shall determine whether the best practices and Fed22 eral guidance described in subsection (d)(2) are sufficient. 

23 (f) NEW GUIDANCE.—Not later than 540 days after 

24 the date of enactment of this Act, if the Administrator, 

25 in consultation with the working group, determines that 


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1 the best practices and Federal guidance described in para2 graph subsection (d)(2) are insufficient, the Adminis3 trator, in consultation with the working group, shall pub4 lish updated Federal guidance. 

Æ 


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