Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3965) to establish in U.S. Customs and Border Protection a pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to be trained as support dogs, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3965

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 ``Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act'' or the ``PEARL Act''. SEC. 2. CBP SUPPORT DOG PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), shall establish in CBP a pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to be trained as support dogs for CBP's Support Canine Program.

(b) Duration.--The pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate three years after the date of its establishment.

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Mr. GUEST. 3965.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3965, the Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act, or the PEARL Act.

As the men and women of the United States Customs and Border Protection work under incredibly stressful conditions to protect our borders, providing a mechanism to boost their well-being will improve the mental health of our frontline officers and agents.

This legislation would enhance CBP's Support Canine Program by creating a pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to serve as therapy dogs for CBP officers and agents.

Mr. GOLDMAN of New York.

Mr. Speaker, in my time serving on the Committee on Homeland Security, I have seen the importance of effective mental health services for the Department's workforce, and I thank Representative Gonzales for introducing this bill.

Individuals within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection work in high-stress environments, protecting our air, land, and sea borders. One way to help address the stressors that they face and support their mental health needs is by using therapy dogs.

That is why I do support this piece of legislation, which will create a pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to be trained as therapy dogs for the CBP workforce.

Not only will this bill provide additional mental health services to CBP personnel, but it will help the dogs in need of homes in our communities, certainly something everyone can support.

I know my colleagues and I are committed to improving the mental health services offered to the men and women who work on our front lines every day. I support this legislation, and I ask my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the PEARL Act.

With over 800 miles of the Texas-Mexico border, I represent the largest border district in the country. From Eagle Pass to Del Rio to the Big Bend region to El Paso, many of America's hardworking Border Patrol agents call Texas 23 home.

Protecting our Nation's border is no easy feat. It is long hours, late nights, and time away from home. The PEARL Act, named after a special canine that helped our Border Patrol agents through some tough times, gives our law enforcement one more tool to improve mental health outcomes at CBP.

In 2023, CBP launched the Support Canine Program, which aims to improve mental health resources for CBP personnel.

Here in Washington we have a saying: If you want a friend, get a dog. That is exactly what this bill is doing. My bill builds upon this goal by establishing a pilot program through the Department of Homeland Security to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to enhance the Support Canine Program.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing this legislation to support the men and women who defend our borders every day in the United States pass.

Mr. GOLDMAN of New York.

Mr. Speaker, we should do all that we can to provide the men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection with effective mental health services, and this bill is a significant step in the right direction. I speak from personal experience.

Mr. Speaker, I got my children a dog a couple of years ago after they were struggling from the aftereffects and trauma of being in Tel Aviv on October 7. It has done wonders for their mental health. I know personally how important therapy dogs can be.

The fact that this bill also helps dogs in need by getting them out of shelters and finding them good homes is something that we can and should all get behind.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bipartisan piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3965, the PEARL Act.

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