119-hres203

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 203 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 203

 Recognizing the roles and contributions of military animals and their 
 valiant human handlers for bravery in both war and peace, and 
 acknowledging the importance of honoring their valor and meritorious 
 achievements.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 March 10, 2025

Ms. Brownley submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Recognizing the roles and contributions of military animals and their 
 valiant human handlers for bravery in both war and peace, and 
 acknowledging the importance of honoring their valor and meritorious 
 achievements.

Whereas the history of the United States needs to comprise the social, economic, 
 cultural, and medical contributions made by military animals and their 
 human handlers, and should include stories of their valor, sacrifices, 
 and meritorious achievements made on behalf of the freedom and safety of 
 the United States;
Whereas military animals have made significant contributions to the peace and 
 protection of the United States and were officially recognized by the 
 Quartermaster Corps on March 13, 1942;
Whereas military animals have served in war throughout history and contributed 
 selfless service and bravery by recognizing their historical 
 contributions, including--

    (1) more than 2,200 years ago, African general Hannibal used elephants 
to carry soldiers and weapons, and since that time, while horses, pigeons, 
and dogs have been mostly used, a vast array of animals were put into 
service, including camels, mules, donkeys, and llamas, and the United 
States experimented with dolphins and sea lions, ``Bomber bats'' were even 
tested during World War II before the hydrogen bomb was completed;

    (2) during World War I, over 8,000,000 horses and mules were killed;

    (3) in 1917, the Army Signal Corps established the Signal Pigeon Corps, 
and at its height during World War II, the Signal Pigeon Corps consisted of 
3,000 enlisted members, 150 officers, and 54,000 pigeons, two-thirds of 
which were deployed overseas, with the other 18,000 held in reserves;

    (4) over 11,500 military working dogs were trained for the home front 
and warfront during World War II; and

    (5) approximately 2,000 military working dogs were sent overseas in 
World War II, an estimated 4,000 military working dogs served in Vietnam 
and an estimated 5,700 military working dogs have served in Afghanistan and 
Iraq since 2006;

Whereas there are currently over 3,000 military working dogs in the United 
 States today, and there is an increasing demand for these military 
 working dogs in the United States as a result of the proven worth and 
 success in their various service and working capacities;
Whereas, since September 11, 2001, the 341st Training Squadron of the Air Force 
 has trained approximately 500 military working dogs annually, including 
 274 explosive detection dogs for the Transportation Security 
 Administration, and, according to the Secretary of the Air Force, there 
 are an estimated 2,000 military working dogs deployed worldwide to 
 support the Global War on Terror, helping to safeguard military bases 
 and activities, and to detect bombs and explosives before they inflict 
 harm;
Whereas canines are used today to maintain peace and protection with numerous 
 law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue agencies around the 
 country, and are trained to patrol, apprehend fleeing criminals, and 
 detect narcotics, explosives, weapons, and accelerants, in cases of 
 arson, and used in crime scene evidence detection;
Whereas, according to the United States Police Canine Association, it is 
 estimated that there are approximately 15,000 police canines working 
 today, not including military working dogs, on the Federal, State, 
 county, and local levels of government, in various service and working 
 capacities;
Whereas, according to Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (hereinafter 
 ``SARDUS''), there are approximately 2,000 certified search and rescue 
 teams across the United States, most of them volunteers who work on the 
 local level for police and sheriff's departments, and include wilderness 
 area search dogs, trailing dogs, human remains detection dogs, water 
 search dogs, and avalanche dog teams;
Whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency also works with SARDUS and State 
 and local organizations as needed, including 28 national urban search 
 and rescue teams, 372 urban search and rescue dogs with capabilities in 
 live find and human remains detection in a disaster environment, and 66 
 nationally certified State disaster K-9 search teams which respond to 
 in-State requests to disasters or imminent threats, including extreme 
 weather and building collapses;
Whereas the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives manages two 
 separate and distinct canine programs including an Explosive and 
 Accelerant Detection Canine Program and a Special Response Team Tactical 
 Canine Program; the Explosive and Accelerant Detection Canine Program 
 began in 1990 and has trained approximately 1,000 explosive detection 
 canines and 280 accelerant detection canines who work both to prevent 
 explosive incidents and to gather evidence at scenes of arson and 
 explosive-related crimes; the Special Response Team Canine Program began 
 in 2000 and has had 35 different tactical canine teams who participate 
 as part of a tactical team and help apprehend violent criminals across 
 the country;
Whereas, according to the United States Marshals Service (hereinafter ``USMS'') 
 Canine Operations Program, there are 25 K-9 teams supporting USMS 
 missions nationwide today, working as explosive detection canines that 
 provide explosives and firearms detection and countermeasure for USMS 
 protective and investigative missions and supports other Federal, State, 
 and local law enforcement agencies, and tactical canines that are 
 specifically trained for USMS enforcement missions to search and locate 
 suspects;
Whereas, since 1943, the United Kingdom has been the only country in the world 
 to honor animals with its international PDSA Dickin Medal, also known as 
 ``the Victoria Cross for Animals'';
Whereas animals that serve in war and peace in the United States are currently 
 not recognized for their acts of gallantry and bravery, and do not have 
 an official medal to honor their distinguished service;
Whereas there is increasing support for the process of a Medal of Bravery and a 
 Distinguished Service Medal for animals and an annual event to recognize 
 such animals who have served valiantly and bravely since World War I;
Whereas the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery was instituted in 2019, and 
 awarded to the inaugural eight recipients on November 14, 2019, at a 
 ceremony attended by dignitaries and Members of Congress, in the 
 District of Columbia, and since then has awarded 27 brave animals with 
 AWP Medals of Bravery and AWP Distinguished Service Medals; and
Whereas a fifth Animals in War & Peace Medal Ceremony is planned for March 11, 
 2025, that will educate and raise public awareness of seven brave 
 animals and their handlers who served the United States in times of war 
 and peace with three AWP Distinguished Service Medals and three AWP 
 Medals of Bravery: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) recognizes and thanks the brave American service 
 animals and their dedicated and selfless handlers who serve the 
 United States in both war and peace; and

    (2) supports the creation of an annual process to nominate 
 animals for the Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service 
 Medal.
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