Homeward Bound Act

Bill: 118-hr-9675
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Armstrong, Kelly [R-ND-At Large]
Introduced: 2024-09-19
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-09-19
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Homeward Bound Act</strong></p><p>This bill allows dogs under six months of age, and dogs without microchips born before the bill becomes law, to be imported into the United States from low-risk countries for rabies. The bill delays the applicability of new requirements on importing dogs for certain government personnel importing dogs from low-risk countries, and for service animals imported from low-risk countries.&nbsp;</p><p>On May 13, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a rule adding new requirements for importing dogs to prevent the reintroduction and spread of rabies. The rule, among other things, requires that every dog imported into the United States must be at least six months of age and must have a microchip implanted. The bill requires the CDC to revise the rule so that dogs of any age may be imported from low-risk countries for rabies, and so that dogs imported from low-risk countries do not need a microchip if born before the bill becomes law.</p><p>In addition, the bill delays the applicability of the rule by 18 months for (1)&nbsp;members of the Armed Forces stationed in a foreign country, personnel serving at a diplomatic or consular post, and their families seeking to import a dog from a low-risk country; and (2)&nbsp;individuals seeking to import service animals from low-risk countries.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9675 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 19, 2024 Mr. Armstrong (for himself, Mrs. Peltola , Mr. Bilirakis , Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas , Mr. Lawler , Mr. Steube , Mr. Cohen , Mr. Carson , and Mr. Kennedy ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To delay the application of a certain rule for members of the Armed Forces stationed in a foreign country and for individuals with service animals, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homeward Bound Act . 2. Delayed application of rule relating to importing dogs for members of the Armed Forces, diplomats serving in a foreign country, and individuals with service animals (a) In general The rule entitled Control of Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Importation of Dogs and Cats published by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal Register on May 13, 2024, (89 Fed. Reg. 41726 et seq.) shall not be applied until the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to— (1) any covered individual seeking to import a dog from a low-risk country for rabies (as defined by the Secretary); and (2) any individual seeking to import a service animal from such a low-risk country. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered individual (A) In general The term covered individual means— (i) a member of the Armed Forces who is stationed in a foreign country; and (ii) any individual serving as personnel at a United States diplomatic or consular post. (B) Inclusion Such term includes a family member stationed in the same location as the individual described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A). (2) Service animal The term service animal has the meaning given such term in part 37.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). 3. Revising rule relating to importing dogs Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall revise part 71 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations— (1) to allow individuals to import into the United States, at any port of entry, from a low-risk country for rabies (as defined by the Secretary), dogs of any age; and (2) in the case of an individual seeking to import a dog from such a country that was born before the date of the enactment of this Act, to not require such dog to be microchipped as a condition on that importation. 4. Rule of construction regarding authority of Secretary of Agriculture Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to enforce any provision of law over which the Secretary of Agriculture has jurisdiction.