HR 3965119th CongressIn Committee

PEARL Act

Introduced: Jun 12, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23] (R-Texas)

Technology & Innovation

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The PEARL Act (Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act) establishes a three-year pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to adopt dogs from local animal shelters and train them as support dogs for CBP personnel. The program must be established within 60 days of the bill's enactment and will run for three years. This initiative serves a dual purpose: providing emotional support resources for CBP officers and agents while simultaneously rescuing shelter dogs that might otherwise face euthanasia.

Key Points

1Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the CBP Commissioner, to establish the pilot program within 60 days of enactment
2Dogs will be adopted specifically from local animal shelters rather than purchased from breeders
3Adopted dogs will be trained for CBP's Support Canine Program to provide emotional assistance to personnel
4The pilot program has a fixed three-year duration from its establishment date
5The bill has bipartisan support with sponsors from both parties

Impact Areas

CBP Personnel: Officers and agents will gain access to support dogs to help with stress, mental health, and emotional well-being in a demanding work environmentAnimal Shelters: Local shelters will benefit from increased adoption rates, potentially saving dogs from euthanasia and freeing up shelter resourcesFederal Budget: CBP will need to allocate resources for shelter adoption fees, training programs, veterinary care, and ongoing support dog maintenance, though costs may be lower than traditional procurement methods

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