A bipartisan bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) that would allow local shelter dogs to be adopted and trained as support canines for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 19.
“This bill will give our law enforcement one more tool to improve mental health outcomes at CBP,” Rep. Gonzales said. “I am grateful to see this legislation pass in the U.S. House of Representatives, and I look forward to getting this bill signed into law.”
Specifically, the House-approved Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act, or the PEARL Act, H.R. 3965, would require CBP to establish a pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to be trained as support dogs for CBP’s Support Canine Program. Support dogs are used for grief assistance, trauma mitigation, and morale, according to the Congressional Record bill summary.
“The PEARL Act is named after a special, and newly retired, support canine that helped our Border Patrol agents get through some very tough times,” said Rep. Gonzales, who sponsored H.R. 3965 on June 12 alongside 11 original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Pete Stauber (R-MN).
The measure advanced to the U.S. Senate, which on Nov. 20 referred it to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for consideration.
“With violence against federal law enforcement on the rise…, it is vital for our Border Patrol agents and CBP officers to have access to the mental health resources they need and deserve for their service,” said U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee. “I applaud the House’s passage of Congressman Gonzales’ PEARL Act today, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do the same so we can better support the courageous men and women who have answered the call to protect our borders.”