Title: A resolution honoring the service to United States Armed Forces provided by military working dogs and contract working dogs, also known as "war dogs".
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Recognizes, on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Army military working dog program: (1) the service that military working dogs and contract working dogs (war dogs) have provided to the Armed Forces, and (2) that not all war dogs were given due recognition by being allowed to retire honorably from service.
Honors the sacrifices made by war dogs in combat and the services war dogs provide in retirement to members of the Armed Forces.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 160 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 160

Honoring the service to United States Armed Forces provided by military 
  working dogs and contract working dogs, also known as ``war dogs''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 9, 2017

    Mr. Nelson (for himself and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the service to United States Armed Forces provided by military 
  working dogs and contract working dogs, also known as ``war dogs''.

Whereas March 13, 2017, marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the 
        United States Army military working dog program, which officially began 
        on March 13, 1942;
Whereas each military working dog (referred to in this preamble as a ``war 
        dog'') and its handler is currently trained at the 341st Training 
        Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, which is also home to the Military 
        Working Dog Teams National Monument;
Whereas war dogs have provided service to each branch of the United States Armed 
        Forces and in each conflict involving the United States since and 
        including the Revolutionary War;
Whereas war dogs are credited with saving countless lives, while alerting 
        servicemembers to danger on patrol, detecting improvised explosive 
        devices, identifying weapons caches, performing search and rescue, and 
        providing other specialized mission functions;
Whereas in conflicts before and including the Vietnam conflict, some war dogs 
        were left behind in conflict areas, but war dogs are no longer 
        considered merely equipment and are now required to be retired in the 
        United States;
Whereas, in recognition of the unique bond between a war dog and its handler 
        team, handlers are given preference in adopting their war dog teammate 
        after the war dog's retirement;
Whereas the service of war dogs has been recognized by senior military leaders, 
        who have stated that the capability of war dogs in combat cannot be 
        replicated by humans or machines and by any measure of performance, war 
        dogs outperform any other asset in the inventory of the United States 
        Armed Forces; and
Whereas numerous war dogs have given their lives in service to the United States 
        Armed Forces, both in active conflict and in retirement, while providing 
        companionship and comfort to veterans and wounded warriors: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the 
establishment of the United States Army military working dog program, 
the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the service that military working dogs and 
        contract working dogs (referred to in this resolution as ``war 
        dogs'') have provided to the United States Armed Forces;
            (2) acknowledges that not all war dogs were given due 
        recognition by being allowed to honorably retire from their 
        service in the United States;
            (3) assures the members of the United States Armed Forces 
        that war dogs will continue to be treated with the deference 
        commensurate with their service and rank; and
            (4) honors the sacrifices made by war dogs in combat and 
        the services war dogs provide in retirement to members of the 
        United States Armed Forces.
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