National Service Animals Monument Act
This bill directs that the monument to commemorate and recognize the heroic deeds and sacrifices of service animals and the handlers of service animals in the United States, to be constructed by the National Service Animals Monument Corporation at a location determined by the corporation, shall be designated as the National Service Animals Monument.
The monument shall not be a unit of the National Park System.
The designation of the monument shall not require federal funds to be expended for any purpose related to the monument.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8397 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8397
To designate the National Service Animals Monument to recognize the
heroic deeds and sacrifices of service animals and handlers of service
animals in the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 24, 2020
Ms. Wild introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To designate the National Service Animals Monument to recognize the
heroic deeds and sacrifices of service animals and handlers of service
animals in the United States, 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 ``National Service Animals Monument
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) service animals, such as dogs, horses, mules, homing
pigeons, and other animals, have accompanied and supported
servicemembers throughout history;
(2) service animals have worked alongside law enforcement
personnel and first responders in performing vital, heroic, and
often life-saving support activities;
(3) shelter dogs are often trained as service animals;
(4) many veterans and individuals with disabilities rely on
the devotion, training, and care provided by companion, guide,
assistance, and therapy animals, which are increasingly
important to improving the quality of life of the veterans and
individuals with disabilities that rely on the animals;
(5) the Department of the Navy--
(A) uses sea lions, which have excellent eyesight--
(i) to find and retrieve unarmed test
ordinance (including practice mines); and
(ii) to secure port complexes; and
(B) uses dolphins--
(i) to find and retrieve equipment lost at
sea;
(ii) to identify intruders in restricted
areas; and
(iii) to detect underwater mines;
(6) rescue dogs and handlers have been used in many
critical disaster settings, including--
(A) in the aftermath of avalanches or other natural
disasters; and
(B) during search and rescue missions, such as the
search and rescue missions after the 9/11 terrorist
attacks;
(7) during World War I and World War II--
(A) homing pigeons served as critical messengers
with tiny message capsules attached to the legs of the
pigeons that were used to send communications to save
the lives of countless soldiers, resulting in many
pigeons becoming the target of enemy fire; and
(B) donkeys and mules transported food, supplies,
ammunition, and wounded soldiers during terrible
hardships;
(8) the military working dog program in the United States--
(A) began in World War II with the program known as
``Dogs for Defense''; and
(B) continues to be an active program in the
military;
(9) military working dogs--
(A) have saved tens of thousands of lives through
the service and sacrifice of the dogs; and
(B) are one of the greatest assets of the military;
(10) servicemembers have served on horseback from the
Revolutionary War to the war in Afghanistan;
(11) horses have carried wounded servicemembers and
critical supplies in support of various military operations;
(12) the purple poppy is the international symbol for the
service and sacrifice of service animals;
(13) on February 24 of each year, National Service Animals
Day is celebrated in the United States and throughout the
world; and
(14) a National Service Animals Monument would represent a
place of pride, introspection, and education to pay tribute to
the contributions and sacrifices made by all service animals
and handlers of service animals throughout history.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF MONUMENT AS NATIONAL SERVICE ANIMALS MONUMENT.
(a) Designation.--The monument to commemorate and recognize the
heroic deeds and sacrifices of service animals and the handlers of
service animals in the United States, to be constructed by the National
Service Animals Monument Corporation at a location determined to be
appropriate by the National Service Animals Monument Corporation, is
designated as the ``National Service Animals Monument''.
(b) Effect of Designation.--
(1) In general.--The monument designated by subsection (a)
is not a unit of the National Park System.
(2) Use of federal funds.--The designation of the monument
by subsection (a) shall not require Federal funds to be
expended for any purpose relating to the monument.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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