Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) has requested funding for the Canine Reimbursement Program, after President Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget request shows the program ‘zeroed out.’ The Canine Reimbursement Program provides funds for local law enforcement agencies to partner with TSA to train their bomb-sniffing dogs and handlers.

Bacon’s Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee request for fiscal year 2024 includes $34 million for the program, which would keep it at its current fiscal year 2023 funding. 

Douglas County Sherriff Aaron Hanson reached out to Bacon when the president’s budget request was released.

“I was flabbergasted when Sherriff Hanson told me that President Biden zeroed out a program that provides invaluable training to our law enforcement in the area of protecting our community from a small- or large-scale bomb attack,” said Bacon. “These dogs and their handlers risk danger each time they go into a location to check for bombs and other security concerns which are obviously a safety concern for any community in not only Nebraska, but America.”

“Foreign and domestic terrorism are an unfortunate reality in today’s world,” said Hanson. “The Omaha Police Department’s Bomb Dog teams not only keep our airports safe they keep our entire city, county, and metropolitan area safe. We all rely on these dog teams to keep us safe. As a former canine handler myself, I know how valuable these exceptional dogs and handlers are to the safety of our community and law enforcement officers.”

 Law Enforcement Agencies can apply through this program for reimbursement of the cost of training. 

“Biden’s move to zero out this funding is really in contrast with his lip service of supporting our law enforcement agencies,” said Bacon. “I will continue to advocate the necessary federal support to those who risk their loves every day, so they have the tools they need to keep us safe. The administration did zero negotiation before pulling the funding.”

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