Rep. Calvert’s BOWOW Act Advanced by Judiciary Committee

Today, the House Judiciary Committee advanced H.R. 4638, the BOWOW Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) to protect animals used by federal law enforcement agencies. The bill was introduced after Freddie, a Customs and Border Patrol agriculture detector dog, was assaulted in June by a non-citizen from Egypt. The BOWOW Act would make the assault of an animal used by federal law enforcement a deportable offense under Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It would also make applicants with such offenses on their record inadmissible to the U.S. under Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

“I appreciate my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee advancing the BOWOW Act and joining me in standing up for our law enforcement animals who help keep Americans safe,” said Rep. Calvert. “Coming to America is a privilege, not a right. Anyone who assaults an animal, like Freddie, simply has no place in our country. 

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