H.R.4638 — Federal Working Animal Protection Act
House Roll Call
H.R.4638
| Bill | H.R.4638 — Federal Working Animal Protection Act |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Passage |
| Vote type | Yea-and-Nay |
| Result | Passed |
| Totals | Yea 228 / Nay 190 / Present 0 / Not Voting 14 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 212 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| D | 15 | 190 | 0 | 9 |
| I | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Passage
Bill Analysis
HR 4638 – Federal Working Animal Protection Act (119th Congress)
HR 4638 amends federal criminal law to create specific protections for “federal working animals,” defined as animals (primarily dogs, but not limited to dogs) owned, used, or handled by federal agencies in official duties (e.g., law enforcement, border security, corrections, search and rescue, national security).
Core provisions
- Establishes a new federal offense for knowingly and willfully killing or attempting to kill a federal working animal while it is engaged in, or because of, its official duties.
- Creates additional offenses for:
• Maiming, wounding, or causing serious bodily injury to a federal working animal.
• Attempting to do so.
• Interfering with the animal’s performance of official duties in a manner that substantially risks serious bodily injury or death to the animal or its handler. - Applies whether the animal is on duty at the time or targeted because of its past or anticipated service.
Penalties
- Killing or attempting to kill a federal working animal: up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines under Title 18.
- Causing serious bodily injury: up to 5 years’ imprisonment and fines.
- Other covered interference or injury: up to 1 year’s imprisonment and fines.
- Requires restitution to the federal agency for veterinary care, rehabilitation, replacement, and related costs if the animal is injured or killed.
Agencies and programs affected
- Directly affects federal entities that deploy working animals, including but not limited to: Department of Homeland Security (CBP, ICE, Secret Service, TSA), Department of Justice (FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Prisons), Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other federal investigative or protective services.
- Does not create a new program or dedicated funding stream; instead, it expands federal criminal jurisdiction and restitution authority.
Beneficiaries and regulated parties
- Beneficiaries: federal agencies relying on working animals, their handlers, and indirectly the public that depends on these security and investigative functions.
- Regulated: individuals who harm, attempt to harm, or obstruct federal working animals.
Timeline
- Takes effect upon enactment; applies to offenses committed after the effective date. No phased implementation or sunset is specified.
Yea (228)
K
Ken Calvert
S
Scott Franklin
J
John Garamendi
L
Lisa McClain
J
John Rutherford
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
Nay (190)
J
Jason Crow
L
Lloyd Doggett
J
John Mannion
L
Lucy McBath
C
Christian Menefee
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
