PEARL Act | ChamberLight

PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 3965Service animalsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel management

PEARL Act

INTRO JUN 12· LAST ACTION NOV 20

READING

1MIN

COSPONSORS

12BIPARTISAN

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

One chamber only

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

Voters should care about this bill because it addresses the well-being of federal agents who often work in demanding and high-stress environments, such as securing our nation's borders. If this bill becomes law, it could provide a new avenue for emotional support for CBP personnel, potentially improving morale and mental health among those serving.

Additionally, it offers a beneficial outcome for shelter animals by giving them a chance at a working life rather than remaining in a shelter, potentially reducing euthanasia rates for suitable dogs. If this bill doesn't become law, CBP would not have this specific pilot program to source support dogs from shelters, and the potential benefits to both agents and shelter animals from this specific initiative would not materialize.

KEY PROVISIONS

3AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Establishes a pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to adopt dogs from local animal shelters.

This creates a new source for support dogs and offers shelter animals a unique opportunity for service.

PROVISION 02

Dogs adopted through the program will be trained as support dogs for CBP's existing Support Canine Program, providing emotional assistance.

This provides emotional assistance to CBP personnel who may work in high-stress roles.

PROVISION 03

The pilot program is temporary and will automatically end three years after it is established.

This allows for an evaluation of the program's effectiveness before deciding whether to make it permanent.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 12

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 100%

DEM 6 REP 6 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

15 EVENTS

NOV 20

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

SENATE · INTROREFERRAL

NOV 19

Mr. Guest moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

HOUSE · FLOOR

NOV 19

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4786)

FLOOR

NOV 19

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3965.

FLOOR

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 3965

Congress119th

StatusPassed House

IntroducedJun 12, 2025

Last actionNov 20, 2025

READER REACTIONS

OVERALL SENTIMENT

No reactions yet. Be the first to weigh in.

Discussion

Loading comments...

Call my reps

PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS · HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JUN 12, 2025

House BillHR 3965Service animalsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel management

PEARL Act

INTRODUCED JUN 12, 2025· LAST ACTION NOV 20, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

1 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Establishes a pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to adopt dogs from local animal shelters.

This creates a new source for support dogs and offers shelter animals a unique opportunity for service.

high

Dogs adopted through the program will be trained as support dogs for CBP's existing Support Canine Program, providing emotional assistance.

This provides emotional assistance to CBP personnel who may work in high-stress roles.

med

The pilot program is temporary and will automatically end three years after it is established.

This allows for an evaluation of the program's effectiveness before deciding whether to make it permanent.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Establish the pilot program.

Three years after its establishment.

Termination of the pilot program.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): A federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for securing U.S. borders and regulating international trade and travel.
Pilot Program: A small-scale, experimental program or project carried out to test the feasibility or effectiveness of a concept before a larger-scale rollout.
Support Dog: A dog trained to provide comfort, companionship, or emotional assistance to individuals, often helping reduce stress or anxiety.
Local Animal Shelters: Facilities that house stray, abandoned, or surrendered animals, often with the goal of finding them new homes.
Enactment Date: The date a bill officially becomes law after being passed by Congress and signed by the President (or if Congress overrides a veto).

ACTION TIMELINE

15 EVENTS

NOV 20, 25

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

INTROREFERRAL

NOV 19, 25

Mr. Guest moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

FLOOR

NOV 19, 25

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4786)

FLOOR

NOV 19, 25

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3965.

FLOOR

READER REACTIONS

0 COMMENTS

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What do you think?

0 votes

Discussion

Loading comments...

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Homeland Security CommitteeReferred

Sep 30, 2025

house

Related Hearings

H.R. 3965, (Mr. Tony Gonzales of TX) the “Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act” or "PEARL Act"; H.R. 4057, (Mr. Correa) the "CBP Canine Home Kenneling Pilot Act"; H.R. 4058, (Mr. Goldman of NY) the "Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act"; H.R. 4070, (Mr. Knott) the "Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment Act"; and H.R. 4071, (Mr. Guest) the "Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025"

Homeland Security Committee (house)Jun 25, 2025

Video

Business meeting to consider an original resolution regarding Contempt of Congress, S.2732, to strengthen employee cost savings suggestions programs within the Federal Government, S.2733, to require the Comptroller General of the United States to analyze certain legislation in order to prevent duplication of and overlap with existing Federal programs, offices, and initiatives, S.252, to increase access to agency guidance documents, S.164, to amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for en bloc consideration in resolutions of disapproval for "midnight rules", H.R.5235, to amend title 41, United States Code, to prohibit minimum educational requirements for proposed contractor personnel in certain contract solicitations, S.3175, to establish a pilot program for ZIP Code boundary changes, S.4505, to require the United States Postal Service to designate ZIP Codes for certain communities, S.1735, to require certain agencies to include a page on the website of the agency relating to permit applications, S.5163, to amend title 39, United States Code, to prevent the awarding of bonuses to the Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General for a fiscal year in which the United States Postal Service does not meet or exceed each on-time mail delivery target, S.2542, to direct the Director of the Federal Protective Service to establish guidance relating to emergency protocols for buildings, S.3211, to require the Office of Management and Budget to consider revising the Standard Occupational Classification system to establish a separate code for direct support professionals, S.4079, to establish in U.S. Customs and Border Protection a pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to be trained as support dogs, S.3296, to amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to cover, for purposes of workers' compensation under such chapter, services by physician assistants and nurse practitioners provided to injured Federal workers, S.388, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with respect to the implementation of building codes, S.3226, to provide for the creation of the missing Armed Forces and civilian personnel Records Collection at the National Archives, to require the expeditious public transmission to the Archivist and public disclosure of missing Armed Forces and civilian personnel records, S.24, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 154 First Avenue East in Jerome, Idaho, as the "Representative Maxine Bell Post Office", S.58, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 107 North Hoyne Avenue in Fritch, Texas, as the "Chief Zeb Smith Post Office", S.829, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 840 Front Street in Casselton, North Dakota, as the "Commander Delbert Austin Olson Post Office", S.917, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 620 East Pecan Boulevard in McAllen, Texas, as the "Agent Raul H. Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Post Office", S.2394, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 505 East 9th Avenue in Amarillo, Texas, as the "Mayor Jerry H. Hodge Post Office Building", S.2432, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6444 San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, as the "Paul Ignatius Post Office", S.3270 and H.R.6310, bills to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3570 Olney Laytonsville Road in Olney, Maryland, as the "Edward L. Ramsey Olney Post Office Building", S.3294 and H.R.6332, bills to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax, Virginia, as the "Congressman Gerald E. Connolly Post Office Building", S.3331, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 50 East 100 North in Moab, Utah, as the "2nd Lieutenant Mitch Williams Post Office", S.3373, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14855 South Van Dyke Road in Plainfield, Illinois, as the "Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez Jr. Post Office Building", S.3444, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service at 1300 East Northwest Highway in Palatine, Illinois, as the "Bernie Bluestein Post Office Building", S.3630, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 46164 Westlake Drive in Sterling, Virginia, as the "Firefighter Trevor Brown Post Office Building", S.3835, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 10 East Main Street in Mahaffey, Pennsylvania, as the "Robert Allen Bishop, Sr., Post Office Building", S.4052, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 North Clay Street in Marshfield, Missouri, shall be known and designated as the "Edwin P. Hubble Post Office", S.4523, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 111 Sou

Search

PEARL Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

PEARL Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Related Legislation

Related Hearings