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