I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4285 
To increase the number of trained detection canines of the Department 
of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 9, 2005 
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, and Mr. 
PEARCE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the 
Judiciary and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To increase the number of trained detection canines of the 
Department of Homeland Security, 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 ‘‘Detection Canine Aug-
mentation Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Detection canines are an important part of 
a layered homeland security system to prepare for, 
respond to, mitigate against, and prevent acts of ter-
rorism. 
(2) Detection canines can be deployed quickly 
and can move easily throughout a variety of areas, 
including mass transit systems, airports, cargo 
areas, sea ports, the Nation’s borders, ports of 
entry, office buildings, and stadiums. 
(3) Detection canines can be trained to detect 
a variety of items, such as explosives, narcotics, con-
cealed humans, and cadavers. 
(4) Detection canines can be utilized in situa-
tions where detection technologies are unavailable, 
immobile, or not cost-effective. 
(5) There is a shortage of detection canines 
available to assist Federal, State, and local law en-
forcement personnel as they put their lives at risk 
daily to protect the Nation. 
(6) The Congress has authorized 2,000 new 
Border Patrol agents for each of the next 5 years 
without a corresponding increase in the number of 
detection canines deployed with these Border Patrol 
agents.
(7) Detection canines have been deployed to the 
Nation’s busiest airports. However, the Transpor-
tation Security Administration must increase the ca-
pacity of its canine training program in order to 
train and deploy canines to the Nation’s mass tran-
sit systems. 
(8) Urban search and rescue canines and ca-
daver detection canines were used effectively in the 
Gulf Coast region to respond to Hurricanes Katrina 
and Rita. 
(9) The Bureau of United States Customs and 
Border Protection, the United States Secret Service, 
the Coast Guard, and the Federal Protective Service 
regularly use detection canines to secure National 
Special Security Events, protect Federal buildings 
and their occupants, and protect the Nation’s sea 
ports. 
(10) The Subcommittee on Management, Inte-
gration, and Oversight of the Committee on Home-
land Security of the House of Representatives held 
a hearing on September 28, 2005, regarding the use 
of detection canines in support of homeland security 
activities. At the hearing, Subcommittee Members 
were informed by several Federal agencies, a local 
transit police department, a private canine security
company, and a university-based canine training 
center that there is a shortage of trained detection 
canines. 
SEC. 3. INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TRAINED DETECTION 
CANINES. 
In each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security shall, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations for such purpose, increase the 
number of trained detection canines as follows: 
(1) CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.—In-
crease by not less than 25 percent the number of 
trained canine detection teams deployed at and be-
tween the Nation’s ports of entry. 
(2) TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY
ADMINISTRA-
TION.—Increase by not less than 25 percent the 
number of trained detection canines deployed at the 
Nation’s airports and mass transit systems. 
(3) COAST
GUARD, UNITED
STATES
SECRET 
SERVICE, FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE, AND FED-
ERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.—Increase 
by not less than 25 percent the number of trained 
detection canine teams available to Coast Guard sta-
tions, Secret Service operations, and Federal Protec-
tive Service operations across the country, and to
the Federal Emergency Management Agency to en-
sure their availability as needed in emergencies. 
SEC. 4. COORDINATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF CANINE 
TRAINING PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall— 
(1) fully coordinate the Department of Home-
land Security’s canine training programs that sup-
port the Department’s counter-terrorism, counter- 
smuggling, transportation security, border security, 
and other missions, including with respect to the re-
search and development of new training methods; 
(2) ensure that the Department is maximizing 
its use of existing training facilities and resources to 
train canines throughout the year; and 
(3) consider ways to use detection canines 
trained by other Federal agencies, non-profit organi-
zations, universities, and private training facilities in 
order to increase the number of trained detection ca-
nines available to Federal, State, and local law en-
forcement agencies. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary shall report to the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov-
ernmental Affairs of the Senate within 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act regarding the Depart-
ment’s plan to coordinate and consolidate its canine train-
ing programs. The report shall include how the Depart-
ment will increase coordination with other Federal agen-
cies, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 
and Explosives in the Department of Justice, that operate 
canine training programs. 
SEC. 5. CANINE PROCUREMENT. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall— 
(1) make it a priority to increase the number 
of domestically bred canines used by the Department 
of Homeland Security to assist in its counter-ter-
rorism mission, including the protection of ports of 
entry and along the United States border; and 
(2) consult with other Federal agencies that use 
canines and the Office of Management and Budget 
to encourage domestic breeding of canines and con-
solidate canine procurement, where possible, across 
the Federal Government to reduce the cost of pur-
chasing canines. 
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