I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1480 

To authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 9, 2023 

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia (for himself, Mr. FERGUSON, Mr. KILDEE, and Mr. 

SMITH of Nebraska) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Agriculture 

A BILL 

To authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, 

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 ‘‘Beagle Brigade Act 

5 of 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. NATIONAL DETECTOR DOG TRAINING CENTER. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a National 

8 Detector Dog Training Center (referred to in this Act as 

9 the ‘‘Center’’). 


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1 (b) DUTIES.—The Center shall have the following du2 ties: 

3 (1) Training dogs for the purpose of safe4 guarding domestic agricultural and natural resources 

5 from foreign and invasive pests and diseases. 

6 (2) Training human handlers to successfully se7 lect and train dogs for the purpose described in 

8 paragraph (1). 

9 (3) Collaborating with relevant Federal agen10 cies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 

11 to safeguard domestic agricultural and natural re12 sources. 

13 (4) Collaborating with external stakeholders, in14 cluding State departments of agriculture, local and 

15 county agricultural officials, private sector entities, 

16 and other relevant non-Federal partners. 

17 (5) Ensuring the health and welfare of all dogs 

18 under the care of the Center, including by ensuring 

19 access to necessary veterinary care, adequate shelter, 

20 and proper nutrition. 

21 (6) Providing opportunities for private adoption 

22 of retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not 

23 complete training. 

24 (7) Any other duties necessary to safeguard do25 mestic agricultural and natural resources from forVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 Mar 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1480.IH H1480

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1 eign and invasive pests and diseases, as determined 

2 by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 

3 Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health In4 spection Service. 

5 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi6 tion to any other amounts made available for the operation 

7 of the Center, there are authorized to be appropriated to 

8 the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Adminis9 trator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 

10 such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2024, and each 

11 fiscal year thereafter, for the operation of the Center. 

12 SEC. 3. REPORT. 

13 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

14 of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 

15 the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspec16 tion Service, shall submit to Congress a report that con17 tains— 

18 (1) a description of current and emerging 

19 threats to domestic agricultural and natural re20 sources from foreign pests and diseases within the 

21 purview of the operations of the Center; 

22 (2) an examination of the role that the Center 

23 plays in the protection against foreign pests and dis24 eases; 


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1 (3) a description of improvements needed in 

2 Federal programs to minimize threats from foreign 

3 pests and diseases within the purview of the oper4 ations of the Center, including strengthened coordi5 nation among the Animal and Plant Health Inspec6 tion Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 

7 and other relevant Federal agencies; 

8 (4) recommendations to strengthen the capabili9 ties of the Center in protecting against foreign pests 

10 and diseases; and 

11 (5) recommendations to improve— 

12 (A) the dog procurement procedures of the 

13 Center; and 

14 (B) private adoption opportunities for re15 tirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not 

16 complete training. 

Æ 


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