Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Mary Peltola (D-AK-AL) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-AL) introduced the bipartisan Homeward Bound Act. Peltola’s legislation amends overburdensome new CDC dog importation rules that affect military families, diplomatic personnel, individuals with service animals, dog musher teams, and more. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began implementing a revised dog importation regulation for all canines crossing into the United States. The updated rule requires airlines to issue an air waybill for all dogs, including service and hand-carried dogs, and would prevent families from traveling with puppies under six months. Military and diplomatic families living abroad and those with service dogs also face significant, additional burdens traveling with their pets.

Peltola’s bill provides an 18-month waiver for military, diplomatic families, and service dogs from the CDC’s dog importation rule and eliminates the restriction requiring dogs to be at least six months old when imported from low-risk rabies countries. Additionally, the Homeward Bound Act removes the microchip requirement for dogs born before the bill’s enactment and those from low-risk rabies countries, where CDC findings show zero known cases of rabid dogs imported in the past 17 years.

“Alaskans rely on our dogs, not just for companionship, but for transportation and protection,” said Representative Peltola. “Recent CDC rule changes are unworkable for many Alaskan families, especially those who frequently cross into Canada, and for dog musher teams that travel to and from the Lower 48. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan Homeward Bound Act – Alaskans spoke up, and we listened.”

“Families need the flexibility and freedom to travel with their dogs without government interference," said Representative Armstrong. "Unfortunately, last month, the CDC decided to stretch the limits of government overreach by introducing a complicated rule that makes traveling across the border with pets more burdensome. I am proud to join my colleagues and introduce the Homeward Bound Act, bipartisan legislation that strikes a balance and makes traveling with pets from low-risk countries possible.”

“The CDC’s dog importation regulation poses significant and unnecessary burdens,” said Senator Cramer. “Whether it’s Canadians coming to North Dakota to hunt with their dog or Americans going to Canada to pick up their newest pet, cross-border travel is commonplace. Similarly, individuals with service dogs, members of the military, and diplomats with pets frequently come in and out of the country. Traveling with pets is hard enough without saddling families with the CDC’s newest requirements. The Homeward Bound Act fixes this bureaucratic overreach, while upholding public health protections.”

“Many American families enjoy the love and companionship of pet dogs — including those serving our country abroad,” said Senator King. “However, recent rules put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created additional hurdles that make bringing your dog back to the U.S. a needlessly complicated process — creating a burden on military families, diplomats, and those who rely on a service dog. The bipartisan Homeward Bound Act would provide more flexibility for these Americans traveling back home from low-risk countries, and help prevent unnecessary separation between owners and their four-legged friends.”


The legislation has been endorsed by the Humane Society Legislative Fund, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, the Canadian Snowbird Association, Signature Pet Transport, and Doug the Pug.


Click here for bill text.

Click here for a one-pager on the bill.

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