I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8397 
To designate the National Service Animals Monument to recognize the heroic 
deeds and sacrifices of service animals and handlers of service animals 
in the United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 
Ms. WILD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To designate the National Service Animals Monument to 
recognize the heroic deeds and sacrifices of service ani-
mals and handlers of service animals in the United 
States, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Service Ani-
mals Monument Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
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(1) service animals, such as dogs, horses, mules, 
homing pigeons, and other animals, have accom-
panied and supported servicemembers throughout 
history; 
(2) service animals have worked alongside law 
enforcement personnel and first responders in per-
forming vital, heroic, and often life-saving support 
activities; 
(3) shelter dogs are often trained as service ani-
mals; 
(4) many veterans and individuals with disabil-
ities rely on the devotion, training, and care provided 
by companion, guide, assistance, and therapy ani-
mals, which are increasingly important to improving 
the quality of life of the veterans and individuals 
with disabilities that rely on the animals; 
(5) the Department of the Navy— 
(A) uses sea lions, which have excellent 
eyesight— 
(i) to find and retrieve unarmed test 
ordinance (including practice mines); and 
(ii) to secure port complexes; and 
(B) uses dolphins— 
(i) to find and retrieve equipment lost 
at sea; 
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(ii) to identify intruders in restricted 
areas; and 
(iii) to detect underwater mines; 
(6) rescue dogs and handlers have been used in 
many critical disaster settings, including— 
(A) in the aftermath of avalanches or other 
natural disasters; and 
(B) during search and rescue missions, 
such as the search and rescue missions after 
the 9/11 terrorist attacks; 
(7) during World War I and World War II— 
(A) homing pigeons served as critical mes-
sengers with tiny message capsules attached to 
the legs of the pigeons that were used to send 
communications to save the lives of countless 
soldiers, resulting in many pigeons becoming 
the target of enemy fire; and 
(B) donkeys and mules transported food, 
supplies, ammunition, and wounded soldiers 
during terrible hardships; 
(8) the military working dog program in the 
United States— 
(A) began in World War II with the pro-
gram known as ‘‘Dogs for Defense’’; and 
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(B) continues to be an active program in 
the military; 
(9) military working dogs— 
(A) have saved tens of thousands of lives 
through the service and sacrifice of the dogs; 
and 
(B) are one of the greatest assets of the 
military; 
(10) servicemembers have served on horseback 
from the Revolutionary War to the war in Afghani-
stan; 
(11) 
horses 
have 
carried 
wounded 
servicemembers and critical supplies in support of 
various military operations; 
(12) the purple poppy is the international sym-
bol for the service and sacrifice of service animals; 
(13) on February 24 of each year, National 
Service Animals Day is celebrated in the United 
States and throughout the world; and 
(14) a National Service Animals Monument 
would represent a place of pride, introspection, and 
education to pay tribute to the contributions and 
sacrifices made by all service animals and handlers 
of service animals throughout history. 
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SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF MONUMENT AS NATIONAL SERV-
ICE ANIMALS MONUMENT. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—The monument to commemorate 
and recognize the heroic deeds and sacrifices of service 
animals and the handlers of service animals in the United 
States, to be constructed by the National Service Animals 
Monument Corporation at a location determined to be ap-
propriate by the National Service Animals Monument Cor-
poration, is designated as the ‘‘National Service Animals 
Monument’’. 
(b) EFFECT OF DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The monument designated 
by subsection (a) is not a unit of the National Park 
System. 
(2) USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS.—The designation 
of the monument by subsection (a) shall not require 
Federal funds to be expended for any purpose relat-
ing to the monument. 
Æ 
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