I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10499 
To establish a pilot program on home kenneling of canines for U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 18, 2024 
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mrs. MCIVER, and Mr. LUTTRELL) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To establish a pilot program on home kenneling of canines 
for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field 
Operations, 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 ‘‘CBP Canine Home 
Kenneling Pilot Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON CANINE HOME KENNELING 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Executive Assistant 
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s 
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(CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) shall establish 
a pilot program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘pilot 
program’’) to assess whether a canine home kenneling pro-
gram would benefit the OFO, including both canine han-
dlers and canines. 
(b) GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Prior to establishing the 
pilot program, the Executive Assistant Commis-
sioner shall distribute written guidance for Field Of-
fices of OFO to use while implementing the canine 
home kenneling pilot program. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing the guid-
ance referred to in paragraph (1), the Executive As-
sistant Commissioner shall consult with the following 
entities: 
(A) Components of the Department of 
Homeland Security that utilize home kenneling. 
(B) The Office of Health Security of the 
Department of Homeland Security. 
(C) Representatives of the National Treas-
ury Employees Union. 
(c) TRAINING.—Prior to establishing the pilot pro-
gram, the Executive Assistant Commissioner shall carry 
out the following: 
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(1) Establish training for canine handlers par-
ticipating in the pilot program to take full responsi-
bility of a canine’s daily care, including feeding, ex-
ercise, and medical needs. 
(2) Disseminate best practices for the integra-
tion of a working canine into the canine handler’s 
residence. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the pilot pro-
gram, the Executive Assistant Commissioner shall carry 
out the following: 
(1) Ensure that not fewer than ten ports of 
entry participate in the pilot program. 
(2) Ensure that canines assigned to seaports, 
airports, and land ports of entry in both urban and 
rural locations participate in the pilot program. 
(3) Provide for the participation of canine han-
dlers on a voluntary basis. 
(4) Continue the pilot program for a period of 
not less than two years. 
(5) Terminate the pilot program not more than 
three years after the establishment of the pilot pro-
gram. 
(e) BRIEFING AND REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Executive 
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Assistant Commissioner shall provide to the appro-
priate congressional committees a briefing describing 
the guidance, training and requirements for the pilot 
program. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the termination of the pilot program, the Executive 
Assistant Commissioner shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report that in-
cludes the following: 
(A) Information relating to the number 
and location of participating canine teams. 
(B) Findings of the pilot program, includ-
ing a cost-benefit, job performance, health, and 
wellbeing analysis comparing use of home 
kenneling with centralized kenneling practices. 
(C) Recommendations regarding the con-
tinued use of home kenneling for CBP Office of 
Field Operations. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security 
in the House of Representatives; and 
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(B) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs in the Senate. 
(2) HOME
KENNELING.—The term ‘‘home 
kenneling’’ means the practice whereby canines used 
for Federal law enforcement purposes are housed 
and cared for at the residences of their assigned 
handlers instead of a centralized facility owned or 
contracted by a Federal agency. 
Æ 
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