Introduction of the Support Our Military Working Dogs Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' in commemoration of National K9 Veterans Day later this week. The United States K9 Corps was established on March 13, 1942. As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, I want to thank my vice-chairman Congressman Andy Kim (D-NJ) for his support as the bill's original cosponsor.

Military working dogs serve on the front lines with our troops to defend our nation and provide recuperating services for our veterans and their former handlers. Caring for these dogs in the field and once they return home is our responsibility.

The ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' would ensure that our nation's military working dogs receive the best possible care and direct the U.S. Department of Defense to work with veterans' service organizations and other nonprofits to support their long-term care, once adopted by their former handler's into loving homes.

In 2019, the U.S. special forces raid that led to the death of ISIS terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi included an American special operations military working dog Belgian Malinois named Conan. During the raid, Conan chased al-Baghdadi into a tunnel underneath a compound in northern Syria, where he then detonated his suicide vest. During the chase, Conan was injured by live electrical wires in the tunnel. Under current federal law, the Department of Defense cannot cover the veterinary expenses of military working dogs like Conan, when they retire from duty or recuperate from injury while adopted.

The ``Support Our Military Working Dogs Act'' would remove these restrictions to authorize the Department of Defense to provide support for retired or injured military working dogs after their adoption. The bill would also ensure that the U.S. government covers all transportation costs associated with transferring retired military animals, including horses, to their new adopted homes, building upon the success of the Military Working Dog Retirement Act of 2015.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, which has jurisdiction over military working dogs, I urge all our Members of the House to join me and Congressman Kim in cosponsoring this important legislation.

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