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. 
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 ‘‘Beagle Brigade Act 
of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL DETECTOR DOG TRAINING CENTER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a National 
Detector Dog Training Center (referred to in this Act as 
the ‘‘Center’’). 
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(b) DUTIES.—The Center shall have the following du-
ties: 
(1) Training dogs for the purpose of safe-
guarding domestic agricultural and natural resources 
from foreign and invasive pests and diseases. 
(2) Training human handlers to successfully se-
lect and train dogs for the purpose described in 
paragraph (1). 
(3) Collaborating with relevant Federal agen-
cies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
to safeguard domestic agricultural and natural re-
sources. 
(4) Collaborating with external stakeholders, in-
cluding State departments of agriculture, local and 
county agricultural officials, private sector entities, 
and other relevant non-Federal partners. 
(5) Ensuring the health and welfare of all dogs 
under the care of the Center, including by ensuring 
access to necessary veterinary care, adequate shelter, 
and proper nutrition. 
(6) Providing opportunities for private adoption 
of retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not 
complete training. 
(7) Any other duties necessary to safeguard do-
mestic agricultural and natural resources from for-
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eign and invasive pests and diseases, as determined 
by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health In-
spection Service. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to any other amounts made available for the operation 
of the Center, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Adminis-
trator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 
such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2024, and each 
fiscal year thereafter, for the operation of the Center. 
SEC. 3. REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspec-
tion Service, shall submit to Congress a report that con-
tains— 
(1) a description of current and emerging 
threats to domestic agricultural and natural re-
sources from foreign pests and diseases within the 
purview of the operations of the Center; 
(2) an examination of the role that the Center 
plays in the protection against foreign pests and dis-
eases; 
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(3) a description of improvements needed in 
Federal programs to minimize threats from foreign 
pests and diseases within the purview of the oper-
ations of the Center, including strengthened coordi-
nation among the Animal and Plant Health Inspec-
tion Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
and other relevant Federal agencies; 
(4) recommendations to strengthen the capabili-
ties of the Center in protecting against foreign pests 
and diseases; and 
(5) recommendations to improve— 
(A) the dog procurement procedures of the 
Center; and 
(B) private adoption opportunities for re-
tirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not 
complete training. 
Æ 
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