Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to classify military working dogs as canine members of the Armed Forces. Requires that such dogs no longer be classified as equipment.
Provides that if a dog should be retired, and no suitable adoption is available at the military facility where the dog is located, the dog may transferred to the 341st Training Squadron or to another location for adoption. Authorizes the acceptance of the donation of frequent traveler miles to facilitate the adoption of a dog.
Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a system to provide for the lifetime veterinary care of retired, adopted dogs. Requires the Secretary to administer the system under a contract awarded by the Secretary to a private non-profit entity. Requires such care to meet standards that the Secretary shall establish and periodically update. Requires any costs of the operation and administration of the system and of any veterinary care provided under the system to be covered by such combination of the following as the Secretary and the non-profit entity jointly consider appropriate: (1) contributions from the non-profit entity, (2) payments for such care by owners or guardians of such dogs, and (3) other appropriate non-federal sources of funds. Prohibits the use of federal funds to provide care or operate the system, except for funds used to establish or administer the system, establish standards of care, or prescribe related regulations.
Directs the Secretary to create a decoration or other appropriate recognition to recognize dogs that are killed in action or perform an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in service to the United States.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4103 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4103
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for certain
requirements relating to the retirement, adoption, care, and
recognition of military working dogs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2012
Mr. Jones introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for certain
requirements relating to the retirement, adoption, care, and
recognition of military working dogs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Canine Members of the Armed Forces
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Each of the Armed Forces and other Government agencies,
including the Secret Service, the Central Intelligence Agency,
and the Transportation Security Administration, use military
working dogs (MWDs) in service to the country.
(2) Since September 11, 2011, military working dogs have
served in Iraq and Afghanistan and have been trained in
explosive detection, narcotic detection, sentry, patrol,
tracking, and other specific duties.
(3) Military working dogs, through their training, have
prevented injuries and saved the lives of thousands of United
States citizens.
(4) Military working dogs perform critical and varied roles
that go far beyond their current designation as ``equipment.''
SEC. 3. RETIREMENT AND ADOPTION OF MILITARY WORKING DOGS.
(a) Retirement and Reclassification of Military Working Dogs.--
Section 2583 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections
(h) and (i), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new
subsections:
``(f) Classification of Military Working Dogs.--The Secretary of
Defense shall classify military working dogs as canine members of the
armed forces. Such dogs shall not be classified as equipment.
``(g) Transfer of Retired Military Working Dogs.--If the Secretary
of the military department concerned determines that a military working
dog should be retired, and no suitable adoption is available at the
military facility where the dog is located, the Secretary may transfer
the dog--
``(1) to the 341st Training Squadron; or
``(2) to another location for adoption under this
section.''.
(b) Acceptance of Frequent Traveler Miles.--Section 2613(d) of such
title is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``; or'' and inserting
a semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) facilitating the adoption of a military working dog
under section 2583 of this title.''.
SEC. 4. VETERINARY CARE FOR RETIRED MILITARY WORKING DOGS.
(a) Veterinary Care.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 50 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``Sec. 993. Military working dogs: veterinary care for retired military
working dogs
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish and
maintain a system to provide for the veterinary care of retired
military working dogs.
``(b) Eligible Dogs.--(1) A retired military working dog eligible
for veterinary care under this section is any military working dog
adopted under section 2583 of this title.
``(2) The veterinary care provided a military working dog under
this section shall be provided during the life of the dog beginning on
the date on which the dog is adopted under such section 2583.
``(c) Administration.--(1) The Secretary shall administer the
system required by this section under a contract awarded by the
Secretary for that purpose.
``(2)(A) The contract under this subsection shall be awarded to a
private non-profit entity selected by the Secretary from among such
entities submitting an application therefor that have such experience
and expertise as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of
this subsection.
``(B) An entity seeking the award of a contract under this
subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor in
such form, and containing such information, as the Secretary shall
require.
``(3) The term of any contract under this subsection shall be such
duration as the Secretary shall specify.
``(d) Standards of Care.--(1) The veterinary care provided under
the system required by this section shall meet such standards as the
Secretary shall establish and from time to time update.
``(2) The standards required by this subsection shall include the
following:
``(A) Provisions regarding the types of care to be provided
to retired military working dogs.
``(B) Provisions regarding the entities (including private
veterinarians and entities) qualified to provide the care.
``(C) Provisions regarding the facilities, including
military installations, government facilities, and private
facilities, in which the care may be provided.
``(D) A requirement that complete histories be maintained
on the health and use in research of retired military working
dogs.
``(E) Such other matters as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
``(3) The Secretary shall consult with the board of directors of
the non-profit private entity awarded the contract under subsection (c)
in establishing and updating standards of care under this subsection.
``(e) Coverage of Costs.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2),
any costs of operation and administration of the system required by
this section, and of any veterinary care provided under the system,
shall be covered by such combination of the following as the Secretary
and the non-profit entity awarded the contract under subsection (c)
jointly consider appropriate:
``(A) Contributions from the non-profit entity.
``(B) Payments for such care by owners or guardians of the
retired military working dogs receiving such care.
``(C) Other appropriate non-Federal sources of funds.
``(2) Funds provided by the Federal Government--
``(A) may not be used--
``(i) to provide veterinary care under the system
required by this section; or
``(ii) to pay for the normal operation of the non-
profit entity awarded the contract under subsection
(c); and
``(B) may be used to carry out the duties of the Secretary
under subsections (a), (c), (d), and (f).
``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for
the discharge of the requirements and authorities in this section,
including regulations on the standards of care required by subsection
(d).''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 50 of such title is amended by adding at
the end the following new item:
``993. Military working dogs: veterinary care for retired military
working dogs.''.
(b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe the
regulations required by subsection (f) of section 993 of title 10,
United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section), not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5. RECOGNITION OF SERVICE OF MILITARY WORKING DOGS.
Section 1125 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) General Authority.--'' before ``The
Secretary of Defense''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Recognition of Service of Military Working Dogs.--The
Secretary of Defense shall create a decoration or other appropriate
recognition to recognize military working dogs under the jurisdiction
of the Secretary that are killed in action or perform an exceptionally
meritorious or courageous act in service to the United States.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
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