Beagle Brigade Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3678
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
Introduced: 2022-02-17
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Animal and plant health

Congressional oversight

Service animals

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2022-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-02-17
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Beagle Brigade Act of 2022</strong></p> <p>This bill provides statutory authority for the National Detector Dog Training Center that is operated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture. The center trains dogs to inspect passenger baggage, cargo, mailed packages, and vehicles to detect foreign pests and diseases that threaten domestic agriculture and natural resources.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3678 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 17, 2022 Mr. Warnock (for himself and Ms. Ernst ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To authorize the National Detector Dog Training Center, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Beagle Brigade Act of 2022 . 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 ). (b) Duties The Center shall have the following duties: (1) Training dogs for the purpose of safeguarding domestic agricultural and natural resources from foreign and invasive pests and diseases. (2) Training human handlers to successfully select and train dogs for the purpose described in paragraph (1). (3) Collaborating with relevant Federal agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to safeguard domestic agricultural and natural resources. (4) Collaborating with external stakeholders, including 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 domestic agricultural and natural resources from foreign and invasive pests and diseases, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (c) Authorization of appropriations In addition 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 Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2022, and each fiscal year thereafter, for the operation of the Center. 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 Inspection Service, shall submit to Congress a report that contains— (1) a description of current and emerging threats to domestic agricultural and natural resources 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 diseases; (3) a description of improvements needed in Federal programs to minimize threats from foreign pests and diseases within the purview of the operations of the Center, including strengthened coordination among the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other relevant Federal agencies; (4) recommendations to strengthen the capabilities 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 retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not complete training.