Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, once again, I am just very appreciative to all of the Members who provided the leadership on this piece of legislation. I think when folks hear the name of this bill, they wonder why Congress is dealing with this. I mean, I kind of like the name actually, Beagle Brigade Act of 2023, but it is not a laughing matter. It is a serious matter. I appreciate the thought that it has and the due diligence that has been put into this bill and the construct of it in terms of really meeting the needs of our Nation. I mean, it is worth repeating, the bill would officially authorize the existing National Detector Dog Training Center located in Newnan, Georgia. The center trains detector dogs, mostly beagles--not all beagles, but mostly beagles--and their U.S. Customs and Border Protection handlers to detect prohibited agriculture items like fruits and vegetables and meats that could carry foreign plant and animal pest and disease into the United States. Once that happens, how rapidly those could spread can obviously seriously impact commodities within the United States and our agriculture industry, and quite frankly, the health and safety of our citizens. Dogs and their handlers inspect international passenger baggage, mailed packages, and vehicles entering the U.S. The dogs are selected from animal shelters, rescue groups, and private owners. Those that do not complete the training, as well as retirement-aged, trained dogs are offered for private adoptions.…”