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117-s-4205117th CongressWALLET

PAW Act

Sponsored By: Senator Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

Became Law

Summary

Strengthens federal planning for household pets, service animals, and captive animals in disasters. It creates a FEMA advisory Working Group to review best practices and update federal guidance on sheltering, evacuation, and recovery.

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  • Families with pets and service animals: The group reviews best practices for congregate and noncongregate sheltering and evacuation to help planners consider animals during emergencies.
  • State and local emergency managers: The Working Group must include two state and two local government representatives to bring frontline experience into federal guidance.
  • Veterinarians, academics, and nonprofits: The law requires two veterinary experts, two academic representatives, and two nonprofit representatives, plus members of the Federal Animal Emergency Management Working Group.
  • FEMA timelines and rules: The FEMA Administrator must establish the Working Group within 180 days, have it assess guidance within 1 year, and publish updated federal guidance within 540 days if needed. Members serve voluntarily and the group terminates 4 years after enactment unless extended.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Better disaster plans for pets and service animals

FEMA must set up a working group within 180 days of enactment. It reviews shelter and evacuation plans for pets, service animals, and captive animals in disasters. Within 1 year, it decides if current federal guidance is enough. If not, FEMA must issue updated guidance by 540 days after enactment. Members include state and local officials, veterinarians, academics, nonprofits, and federal partners. They serve without pay. The group ends 4 years after enactment unless FEMA extends it.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 5/12/2022

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 5/24/2022

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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