Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act; PEARL Act
Summary
The PEARL Act (H.R. 3965) aims to establish a pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to adopt dogs from local animal shelters and train them as support dogs. This program intends to enhance CBP's Support Canine Program by utilizing rescued animals.
The bill mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the CBP Commissioner, to implement this program within 60 days of the Act's enactment. The pilot program is set to terminate three years after its establishment.
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, later being committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union.
Expected Effects
The PEARL Act will likely lead to the creation of a new pilot program within CBP focused on training shelter dogs as support animals. This could increase the availability of support canines for CBP personnel.
It may also reduce the burden on animal shelters by providing an avenue for dog adoption. The program's success will be evaluated over its three-year duration.
Potential Benefits
- Potential reduction in shelter dog populations through adoption.
- Increased availability of support dogs for CBP, potentially improving officer well-being.
- Possible cost savings compared to purchasing dogs from breeders.
- Positive public relations for CBP through animal welfare initiatives.
- Demonstration of innovative approaches to law enforcement support.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential costs associated with training and maintaining the support dogs.
- Risk of program failure if the adopted dogs are not suitable for training.
- Possible concerns about the dogs' ability to handle the demands of CBP work.
- Administrative burden on CBP to manage the pilot program.
- Uncertainty about the long-term effectiveness and scalability of the program.
Constitutional Alignment
The PEARL Act appears to align with the Constitution, particularly the general welfare clause of the Preamble, as it aims to improve the well-being of CBP personnel and support animal welfare. Congress's power to establish and regulate agencies like CBP is derived from Article I, Section 8, which grants it the authority to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.
There are no apparent conflicts with individual rights or liberties protected by the Bill of Rights. The act does not infringe upon any specific constitutional provision.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).