PEARL Act

Bill Number: H.R. 3965
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Immigration
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-11-20: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Last Updated: 2026-06-22T22:38:55Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 3965 (PEARL Act)

Purpose

This legislation creates a short-term pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection to obtain dogs from local animal shelters and train them as support dogs for existing agency canine operations.

Key Provisions

The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, must start the pilot program no later than 60 days after the law takes effect.
Dogs will come from local animal shelters and be trained specifically for CBP's Support Canine Program.
The program ends automatically three years after it begins.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new pilot program but does not amend or repeal any current statutes. It adds a temporary operational requirement for CBP without altering broader immigration, border security, or animal welfare laws.

Potential Impacts

Government agencies: Primarily affects U.S. Customs and Border Protection by requiring it to develop and run a new adoption and training process for three years.
Citizens: May increase adoptions from local shelters, potentially reducing shelter populations, though the scale depends on program implementation.
International relations: No direct effects, as the program operates entirely within U.S. domestic agencies and facilities.

Main Stakeholders

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security.
Local animal shelters that supply dogs.
CBP personnel involved in canine training and support operations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The bill raises no apparent constitutional issues, as it involves routine agency operations and does not touch on rights, powers, or federalism matters. Politically, it focuses on a limited, non-controversial administrative pilot without broader policy shifts.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

Recent Actions

2025-11-20: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
2025-11-19: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-11-19: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4786)
2025-11-19: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4786)
2025-11-19: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3965.
2025-11-19: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4786)
2025-11-19: Mr. Guest moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2025-09-30: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 268.
2025-09-30: Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 119-314.
2025-09-30: Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 119-314.
2025-06-25: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
2025-06-25: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-06-25: Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Discharged
2025-06-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
2025-06-12: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Bill Versions

Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (4 pages)
Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act — issued 2025-06-12 — PDF (2 pages)
Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (2 pages)
Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act — issued 2025-09-30 — PDF (4 pages)