I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9675 
To delay the application of a certain rule for members of the Armed Forces 
stationed in a foreign country and for individuals with service animals, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 
Mr. ARMSTRONG (for himself, Mrs. PELTOLA, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. TONY 
GONZALES of Texas, Mr. LAWLER, Mr. STEUBE, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CAR-
SON, and Mr. KENNEDY) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To delay the application of a certain rule for members of 
the Armed Forces stationed in a foreign country and 
for individuals with service animals, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Homeward Bound 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DELAYED APPLICATION OF RULE RELATING TO IM-
PORTING 
DOGS 
FOR 
MEMBERS 
OF 
THE 
ARMED FORCES, DIPLOMATS SERVING IN A 
FOREIGN COUNTRY, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH 
SERVICE ANIMALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The rule entitled ‘‘Control of 
Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Importation 
of Dogs and Cats’’ published by the Department of Health 
and Human Services in the Federal Register on May 13, 
2024, (89 Fed. Reg. 41726 et seq.) shall not be applied 
until the date that is 18 months after the date of the en-
actment of this Act with respect to— 
(1) any covered individual seeking to import a 
dog from a low-risk country for rabies (as defined by 
the Secretary); and 
(2) any individual seeking to import a service 
animal from such a low-risk country. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘covered in-
dividual’’ means— 
(i) a member of the Armed Forces 
who is stationed in a foreign country; and 
(ii) any individual serving as per-
sonnel at a United States diplomatic or 
consular post. 
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(B) INCLUSION.—Such term includes a 
family member stationed in the same location 
as the individual described in clause (i) or (ii) 
of subparagraph (A). 
(2) SERVICE ANIMAL.—The term ‘‘service ani-
mal’’ has the meaning given such term in part 37.3 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or suc-
cessor regulations). 
SEC. 3. REVISING RULE RELATING TO IMPORTING DOGS. 
Not later than 10 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, shall revise part 71 of 
title 42, Code of Federal Regulations— 
(1) to allow individuals to import into the 
United States, at any port of entry, from a low-risk 
country for rabies (as defined by the Secretary), 
dogs of any age; and 
(2) in the case of an individual seeking to im-
port a dog from such a country that was born before 
the date of the enactment of this Act, to not require 
such dog to be microchipped as a condition on that 
importation. 
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SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING AUTHORITY 
OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting 
the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce 
any provision of law over which the Secretary of Agri-
culture has jurisdiction. 
Æ 
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