IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 203 
Recognizing the roles and contributions of military animals and their valiant 
human handlers for bravery in both war and peace, and acknowledging 
the importance of honoring their valor and meritorious achievements. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2025 
Ms. BROWNLEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the roles and contributions of military animals 
and their valiant human handlers for bravery in both 
war and peace, and acknowledging the importance of 
honoring their valor and meritorious achievements. 
Whereas the history of the United States needs to comprise 
the social, economic, cultural, and medical contributions 
made by military animals and their human handlers, and 
should include stories of their valor, sacrifices, and meri-
torious achievements made on behalf of the freedom and 
safety of the United States; 
Whereas military animals have made significant contributions 
to the peace and protection of the United States and 
were officially recognized by the Quartermaster Corps on 
March 13, 1942; 
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•HRES 203 IH 
Whereas military animals have served in war throughout his-
tory and contributed selfless service and bravery by rec-
ognizing their historical contributions, including— 
(1) more than 2,200 years ago, African general 
Hannibal used elephants to carry soldiers and weapons, 
and since that time, while horses, pigeons, and dogs have 
been mostly used, a vast array of animals were put into 
service, including camels, mules, donkeys, and llamas, 
and the United States experimented with dolphins and 
sea lions, ‘‘Bomber bats’’ were even tested during World 
War II before the hydrogen bomb was completed; 
(2) during World War I, over 8,000,000 horses and 
mules were killed; 
(3) in 1917, the Army Signal Corps established the 
Signal Pigeon Corps, and at its height during World War 
II, the Signal Pigeon Corps consisted of 3,000 enlisted 
members, 150 officers, and 54,000 pigeons, two-thirds of 
which were deployed overseas, with the other 18,000 held 
in reserves; 
(4) over 11,500 military working dogs were trained 
for the home front and warfront during World War II; 
and 
(5) approximately 2,000 military working dogs were 
sent overseas in World War II, an estimated 4,000 mili-
tary working dogs served in Vietnam and an estimated 
5,700 military working dogs have served in Afghanistan 
and Iraq since 2006; 
Whereas there are currently over 3,000 military working dogs 
in the United States today, and there is an increasing de-
mand for these military working dogs in the United 
States as a result of the proven worth and success in 
their various service and working capacities; 
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•HRES 203 IH 
Whereas, since September 11, 2001, the 341st Training 
Squadron of the Air Force has trained approximately 500 
military working dogs annually, including 274 explosive 
detection dogs for the Transportation Security Adminis-
tration, and, according to the Secretary of the Air Force, 
there are an estimated 2,000 military working dogs de-
ployed worldwide to support the Global War on Terror, 
helping to safeguard military bases and activities, and to 
detect bombs and explosives before they inflict harm; 
Whereas canines are used today to maintain peace and pro-
tection with numerous law enforcement, fire, and search 
and rescue agencies around the country, and are trained 
to patrol, apprehend fleeing criminals, and detect nar-
cotics, explosives, weapons, and accelerants, in cases of 
arson, and used in crime scene evidence detection; 
Whereas, according to the United States Police Canine Asso-
ciation, it is estimated that there are approximately 
15,000 police canines working today, not including mili-
tary working dogs, on the Federal, State, county, and 
local levels of government, in various service and working 
capacities; 
Whereas, according to Search and Rescue Dogs of the United 
States (hereinafter ‘‘SARDUS’’), there are approximately 
2,000 certified search and rescue teams across the 
United States, most of them volunteers who work on the 
local level for police and sheriff’s departments, and in-
clude wilderness area search dogs, trailing dogs, human 
remains detection dogs, water search dogs, and avalanche 
dog teams; 
Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency also 
works with SARDUS and State and local organizations 
as needed, including 28 national urban search and rescue 
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•HRES 203 IH 
teams, 372 urban search and rescue dogs with capabili-
ties in live find and human remains detection in a dis-
aster environment, and 66 nationally certified State dis-
aster K–9 search teams which respond to in-State re-
quests to disasters or imminent threats, including ex-
treme weather and building collapses; 
Whereas the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ex-
plosives manages two separate and distinct canine pro-
grams including an Explosive and Accelerant Detection 
Canine Program and a Special Response Team Tactical 
Canine Program; the Explosive and Accelerant Detection 
Canine Program began in 1990 and has trained approxi-
mately 1,000 explosive detection canines and 280 
accelerant detection canines who work both to prevent ex-
plosive incidents and to gather evidence at scenes of 
arson and explosive-related crimes; the Special Response 
Team Canine Program began in 2000 and has had 35 
different tactical canine teams who participate as part of 
a tactical team and help apprehend violent criminals 
across the country; 
Whereas, according to the United States Marshals Service 
(hereinafter ‘‘USMS’’) Canine Operations Program, there 
are 25 K–9 teams supporting USMS missions nationwide 
today, working as explosive detection canines that provide 
explosives and firearms detection and countermeasure for 
USMS protective and investigative missions and supports 
other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, 
and tactical canines that are specifically trained for 
USMS enforcement missions to search and locate sus-
pects; 
Whereas, since 1943, the United Kingdom has been the only 
country in the world to honor animals with its inter-
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•HRES 203 IH 
national PDSA Dickin Medal, also known as ‘‘the Vic-
toria Cross for Animals’’; 
Whereas animals that serve in war and peace in the United 
States are currently not recognized for their acts of gal-
lantry and bravery, and do not have an official medal to 
honor their distinguished service; 
Whereas there is increasing support for the process of a 
Medal of Bravery and a Distinguished Service Medal for 
animals and an annual event to recognize such animals 
who have served valiantly and bravely since World War 
I; 
Whereas the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery was 
instituted in 2019, and awarded to the inaugural eight 
recipients on November 14, 2019, at a ceremony at-
tended by dignitaries and Members of Congress, in the 
District of Columbia, and since then has awarded 27 
brave animals with AWP Medals of Bravery and AWP 
Distinguished Service Medals; and 
Whereas a fifth Animals in War & Peace Medal Ceremony is 
planned for March 11, 2025, that will educate and raise 
public awareness of seven brave animals and their han-
dlers who served the United States in times of war and 
peace with three AWP Distinguished Service Medals and 
three AWP Medals of Bravery: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes and thanks the brave American 
service animals and their dedicated and selfless han-
dlers who serve the United States in both war and 
peace; and 
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