Title: Recognizing the roles and contributions of United States service animals and their valiant human handlers for bravery in both war and peace, and acknowledging the importance of creating a process for honoring their valor and meritorious achievements.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution recognizes and thanks service animals and their handlers who serve the United States in times of war and peace and supports the creation of an annual process to nominate animals for the Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medal.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 935 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 935

   Recognizing the roles and contributions of United States service 
 animals and their valiant human handlers for bravery in both war and 
   peace, and acknowledging the importance of creating a process for 
           honoring their valor and meritorious achievements.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 18, 2022

  Ms. Roybal-Allard (for herself, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. 
  Pappas, Mr. Crist, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Lieu, Mr. 
   Bilirakis, Mrs. Luria, Ms. Titus, and Mr. Quigley) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the roles and contributions of United States service 
 animals and their valiant human handlers for bravery in both war and 
   peace, and acknowledging the importance of creating a process for 
           honoring their valor and meritorious achievements.

Whereas the history of our Nation needs to comprise the social, economic, 
        cultural, and medical contributions made by United States service 
        animals and their human handlers, and should include stories of their 
        valor, sacrifices, and meritorious achievements made on behalf of our 
        freedom and safety;
Whereas animals have made significant contributions to the peace and protection 
        of our United States and were officially recognized by the Quartermaster 
        Corps on March 13, 1942;
Whereas there are currently over 3,000 military working dogs in the United 
        States today, and there is an increasing demand 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;
Whereas, since September 11, 2001, Air Force security forces have trained 
        approximately 500 military working dogs annually for the Department of 
        Defense, and, according to the Department of Defense Military Working 
        Dog Program, there are an estimated 2,300 military working dogs deployed 
        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 protection with numerous 
        law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue agencies around the 
        country, and are trained to patrol, apprehend fleeing criminals, and 
        detect narcotics, explosives, weapons, and accelerants, in cases of 
        arson;
Whereas, according to the United States Police Canine Association, it is 
        estimated that there are approximately 15,000 police canines working 
        today, not including military 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, there are 
        over 2,000 certified search and rescue teams across the United States, 
        most of them volunteers who work with the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency and State and local organizations as needed, including 28 
        national urban search and rescue teams, 369 urban search and rescue dogs 
        with capabilities in live find and human remains detection in a disaster 
        environment, and 66 nationally certified State disaster K-9 search teams 
        which respond to instate requests to disasters or imminent threats of 
        weather, building collapse, etc.;
Whereas, since 1943, the United Kingdom has been the only country in the world 
        to honor animals with its international PDSA Dickin Medal, also known as 
        ``the Victoria Cross for Animals'';
Whereas animals that serve in war and peace in the United States are currently 
        not recognized for their acts of gallantry 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 and Peace Medal of Bravery was instituted in 2019, 
        and awarded to the inaugural eight recipients on November 14, 2019, at a 
        ceremony, attended by dignitaries and Members of Congress, in the 
        District of Columbia; and
Whereas a second Animals in War and Peace event is currently being planned, to 
        educate and raise public awareness of these brave animals and their 
        handlers who served the United States in times of war and peace: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and thanks the brave American service 
        animals and their dedicated and selfless handlers who serve the 
        United States in both war and peace; and
            (2) supports the creation of an annual process to nominate 
        animals for the Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service 
        Medal.
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