Senate bill directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to create shelter-dog support program

Original title: PEARL Act

Last action · September 14, 2026: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 569.Sponsors: Ruben Gallego and 5 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

U.S. Customs and Border Protection must establish a three-year pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters and train them as support dogs within 60 days of the act's enactment, without receiving any newly appropriated funds.

Why it matters

The measure alters internal agency operations by mandating shelter dog acquisition for workforce support without expanding the federal budget, impacting how agency canine resources are sourced over a three-year period.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The agency must establish and administer a three-year shelter dog pilot program within 60 days using existing funds.

Directly affected

local animal shelters

Shelters serve as the source from which dogs are adopted for the federal support canine initiative.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the support dogs for the pilot program come from?

The dogs will be adopted from local animal shelters.

How long will the support dog pilot program last?

The pilot program terminates three years after the date of its establishment.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.

Procedural history

5 actions

Sep 14, 2026Senate
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 569.
Sep 14, 2026Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment. Without written report.
Aug 6, 2026Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Mar 12, 2026SenateCommittee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mar 12, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate

Version history

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