PEARL Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9327
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 0.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T08:07:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9327: PEARL Act
Purpose
This legislation aims to create a temporary pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that adopts dogs from local animal shelters and trains them as support dogs for use in CBP's existing Support Canine Program.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the CBP Commissioner, must establish the pilot program no later than 60 days after the bill becomes law.
- Dogs will be sourced from local animal shelters and trained specifically as support dogs.
- The pilot program will run for three years from the date it is established and then end.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill introduces a new pilot initiative but does not amend or repeal any current statutes. It adds a short-term program to CBP operations without altering broader legal frameworks for canine programs or animal adoption.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: CBP and the Department of Homeland Security will handle program setup, dog adoption, training, and management for three years.
- Citizens: Local animal shelters may see increased adoptions, potentially reducing shelter populations; CBP personnel could gain access to additional support dogs for emotional or operational needs.
- International relations: No direct effects are outlined.
Main Stakeholders
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security.
- Local animal shelters participating in dog adoptions.
- CBP employees who may work with or benefit from the support dogs.
Notable Implications
- The bill carries no apparent constitutional or legal conflicts, as it focuses on internal agency operations.
- It reflects a bipartisan effort, with sponsors from both parties, but introduces no major political or policy shifts beyond the pilot's limited scope.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 0.
- 2026-06-24: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (2 pages)