San Antonio Standard

Rep. Tony Gonzales has introduced the PEARL Act, a legislation aimed at providing therapy dogs to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to address mental health challenges within the agency. Gonzales emphasized the importance of supporting CBP personnel during the ongoing crisis at the borders, stating, "By improving access to canine therapy support, this legislation will give our law enforcement one more tool to improve mental health outcomes at CBP."

The PEARL Act has garnered support from a bipartisan group of Congress members, including Reps. Michael McCaul, Lou Correa, Anthony D’Esposito, Henry Cuellar, Morgan Luttrell, Don Davis, Nancy Mace, Sheila Jackson Lee, Mike Lawler, Nicole Malliotakis, and Maria Elvira Salazar.

Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed his support for the legislation, acknowledging the mental health crisis faced by border patrol agents and the need to provide resources to address the psychological battles they encounter while protecting the homeland.

Rep. Lou Correa, an original co-sponsor of the PEARL Act, highlighted the importance of supporting frontline agents who work tirelessly to keep the border secure and humane. He noted that the program has shown promise in boosting staff morale and enhancing their ability to fulfill their duty of safeguarding the homeland.

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito emphasized the significance of taking care of CBP officers and expressed pride in co-sponsoring the PEARL Act to provide for the law enforcement officers who dedicate themselves to serving the country.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, who worked on securing funding for suicide prevention and workforce wellness efforts within CBP, underscored the need to support border patrol agents with proper mental health resources. Cuellar commended the PEARL Act for strengthening the therapy dog program within DHS and providing essential mental health support to Border Patrol agents.

Rep. Morgan Luttrell echoed the sentiment of supporting border agents by cosponsoring the PEARL Act, which aims to address the decline in mental health among CBP agents through a pilot program supporting the Canine Support Program.

Rep. Don Davis stressed the importance of providing assistance to CBP personnel facing overwhelming challenges due to the ongoing border crisis. He highlighted the significance of the PEARL Act in offering emotional support to the workforce and ensuring high morale.

Rep. Nancy Mace emphasized the dual benefit of the PEARL Act, stating, "By facilitating the adoption of therapy dogs from local shelters, we're not only providing essential emotional support for our CBP workforce but also offering a loving home to shelter dogs."

The PEARL Act directs the Secretary of Homeland Security and Commissioner of CBP to establish a pilot program focusing on obtaining therapy dogs through adoption at local animal shelters. The legislation aims to assist CBP in reaching its goal of placing a therapy dog in every Border Patrol Sector across the country.