A bipartisan group of lawmakers has come together to propose legislation that they say would improve the usage of explosive detection canine teams.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, there’s been an increased demand for explosive detection systems, with canine detection teams being a significant element in that effort.
With this in mind, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Rep. Chris Carney (D-PA), Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY) came together on Jan. 26 to announce that they’ve introduced H.R. 659, known as the Canine Detection Improvement Act of 2007.
The legislation, they say, addresses the need for improved and coordinated training, encourages the use of domestic dogs, and confronts the need for more dogs by establishing a domestic canine breeding grant program to increase canine numbers through public and private means.
The bill would also create an accreditation board to ensure proper certification standards and to prevent fraud and abuse.
“This bipartisan, common-sense legislation should help increase the use of domestically-bred dogs and support the work of canine breeding programs,” Rogers said in a statement. “Currently, the vast majority of these dogs are purchased in Europe, but by increasing domestic breeding we lower the costs of acquiring these dogs and ensure there are a sufficient number available for U.S. detection team training.”
“Properly trained dogs have more flexibility than technology [does] in their ability to deter and detect threats to our homeland. Our legislation will ensure that this important homeland security tool receives the support and coordination necessary,” King said.