II 

Calendar No. 466 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4205 

[Report No. 117–140] 

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, Mr. PORTMAN, and Mr. SCOTT of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

AUGUST 3, 2022 

Reported by Mr. PETERS, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

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, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 4205 RS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Planning for Animal 

3 Wellness Act’’ or the ‘‘PAW Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP GUIDELINES. 

5 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis7 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 

8 Emergency Management Agency. 

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

10 group’’ means the advisory working group estab11 lished under subsection (b). 

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

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

14 establish an advisory working group. 

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

16 of— 

17 (1) not less than 2 representatives of State gov18 ernments with experience in animal emergency man19 agement; 

20 (2) not less than 2 representatives of local gov21 ernments with experience in animal emergency man22 agement; 

23 (3) not less than 2 representatives from aca24 demia; 

25 (4) not less than 2 veterinary experts; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 4205 RS

1 (5) not less than 2 representatives from non2 profit organizations working to address the needs of 

3 households pets and service animals in emergencies 

4 or disasters; 

5 (6) representatives from the Federal Animal 

6 Emergency Management Working Group; and 

7 (7) any other members determined necessary by 

8 the Administrator. 

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

10 (1) encourage and foster collaborative efforts 

11 among individuals and entities working to address 

12 the needs of household pets, service and assistance 

13 animals, and captive animals, as appropriate, in 

14 emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and 

15 recovery; and 

16 (2) review best practices and Federal guidance, 

17 as of the date of enactment of this Act, on con18 gregate and noncongregate sheltering and evacuation 

19 planning relating to the needs of household pets, 

20 service and assistance animals, and captive animals, 

21 as appropriate, in emergency and disaster prepared22 ness, response, and recovery. 

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

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


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 4205 RS

1 group shall determine whether the best practices and Fed2 eral guidance described in subsection (d)(2) are sufficient. 

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

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

5 in consultation with the working group, determines that 

6 the best practices and Federal guidance described in para7 graph subsection (d)(2) are insufficient, the Adminis8 trator, in consultation with the working group, shall pub9 lish updated Federal guidance. 

10 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

11 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Planning for Animal 

12 Wellness Act’’ or the ‘‘PAW Act’’. 

13 SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP GUIDELINES. 

14 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

15 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis16 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 

17 Emergency Management Agency. 

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

19 group’’ means the advisory working group established 

20 under subsection (b). 

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

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

23 establish an advisory working group. 

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

25 of— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 4205 RS

1 (1) not less than 2 representatives of State gov2 ernments with experience in animal emergency man3 agement; 

4 (2) not less than 2 representatives of local gov5 ernments with experience in animal emergency man6 agement; 

7 (3) not less than 2 representatives from aca8 demia; 

9 (4) not less than 2 veterinary experts; 

10 (5) not less than 2 representatives from nonprofit 

11 organizations working to address the needs of house12 holds pets and service animals in emergencies or dis13 asters; 

14 (6) representatives from the Federal Animal 

15 Emergency Management Working Group; and 

16 (7) any other members determined necessary by 

17 the Administrator. 

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

19 (1) encourage and foster collaborative efforts 

20 among individuals and entities working to address 

21 the needs of household pets, service and assistance 

22 animals, and captive animals, as appropriate, in 

23 emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and 

24 recovery; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
6 

•S 4205 RS

1 (2) review best practices and Federal guidance, 

2 as of the date of enactment of this Act, on congregate 

3 and noncongregate sheltering and evacuation plan4 ning relating to the needs of household pets, service 

5 and assistance animals, and captive animals, as ap6 propriate, in emergency and disaster preparedness, 

7 response, and recovery. 

8 (e) NO COMPENSATION.—The members of the working 

9 group shall serve on the working group on a voluntary 

10 basis. 

11 (f) GUIDANCE DETERMINATION.—Not later than 1 

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

13 group shall determine whether the best practices and Fed14 eral guidance described in subsection (d)(2) are sufficient. 

15 (g) NEW GUIDANCE.—Not later than 540 days after 

16 the date of enactment of this Act, if the Administrator, in 

17 consultation with the working group, determines that the 

18 best practices and Federal guidance described in subsection 

19 (d)(2) are insufficient, the Administrator, in consultation 

20 with the working group, shall publish updated Federal 

21 guidance. 

22 (h) SUNSET.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), the 

24 working group shall terminate on the date that is 4 

25 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
7 

•S 4205 RS

1 (2) EXTENSION.—The Administrator may extend 

2 the date described in paragraph (1) if the Adminis3 trator determines an extension is appropriate. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
Calendar No. 466 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4205 

[Report No. 117–140] 

A BILL 

To require the Administrator of the Federal Emerters, and for other purposes. guidance for animals in emergencies and disas- ing group relating to best practices and Federal gency Management Agency to establish a workAUGUST 3, 2022 

Reported with an amendment 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS