Bill · S. 4079· Senate(119-S-4079)
PEARL Act
- Introduced
- 3/12/2026
- Last activity
- 9/14/2026 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 569.
- Sponsored by
- Ruben Gallego
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 3
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "PEARL Act," seeks to create a pilot program within U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The program involves adopting dogs from local animal shelters to be trained as support dogs for the CBP's Support Canine Program. The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the CBP Commissioner, is responsible for establishing this initiative. This pilot program is scheduled to terminate three years after it begins. Additionally, the bill specifies that no additional funds are authorized for this purpose.
Yes
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+2
Provides support dogs to CBP personnel, potentially aiding mental health and emotional well-being.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Support for Local Animal Shelters: The program allows for the adoption of dogs from local animal shelters (Section 2(a)), which provides a path for these animals to be utilized for training.
-
Enhancement of CBP Support Canine Program: The establishment of a pilot program to train shelter dogs as support dogs can bolster the existing CBP Support Canine Program (Section 2(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Constraints: The bill explicitly states that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program (Section 2(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+2
- 9/14/2026
- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 569.
- 8/6/2026
- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
- 7/13/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
John CurtisRepublican · Utah
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania