Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act”.
Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements relating to the retirement, adoption, and recognition of military working dogs, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
Each of the Armed Forces and other Government agencies, including the Secret Service, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Transportation Security Administration, use military working dogs in service to the country.
Since September 11, 2011, military working dogs have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and have been trained in explosive detection, narcotic detection, sentry, patrol, tracking, and other specific duties.
Military working dogs, through their training, have prevented injuries and saved the lives of thousands of United States citizens.
Military working dogs perform critical and varied roles that go far beyond their current designation as “equipment”.
Sec. 3 Retirement and adoption of military working dogs
Retirement and reclassification of military working dogs— Section 2583 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (h), (i), (j), and (k), respectively; and
by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections:
“(f) Classification of military working dogs—The Secretary of Defense shall classify military working dogs as canine members of the Armed Forces. Such dogs shall not be classified as equipment.
“(g) Transfer of retired military working dogs—If the Secretary of the military department concerned determines that a military working dog should be retired, and no suitable adoption is available at the military facility where the dog is located, the Secretary may transfer the dog—
“(1) to the 341st Training Squadron; or
“(2) to another location for adoption under this section.”
Acceptance of frequent traveler miles— Section 2613(d) of such title is amended—
in paragraph (1)(B), by striking “; or” and inserting a semicolon;
in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(3) facilitating the adoption of a military working dog under section 2583 of this title.”
Sec. 4 Recognition of service of military working dogs
Section 1125 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
by inserting “(a) General authority.—” before “The Secretary of Defense”; and
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(b) Recognition of service of military working dogs—The Secretary of Defense shall create a decoration or other appropriate recognition to recognize military working dogs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that are killed in action or perform an exceptionally meritorious or courageous act in service to the United States.”