Joyce Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act Passes House

Resources / Immigration Share on Joyce Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act Passes House Sep 17, 2026 Immigration Press WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Dave Joyce’s (OH-14) bill, the Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love (PEARL) Act. This bipartisan bill would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish a pilot program to adopt dogs from local animal shelters to be trained as support dogs for CBP’s Support Canine Program. This legislation was introduced in June alongside Representative Lou Correa (CA-46). “For years, the men and women of Customs and Border Protection have faced mental health challenges. From confronting the scourge of illicit fentanyl crossing our borders to witnessing the heartbreaking toll of human trafficking, these officers deal with some of the most difficult emotional stressors that can be imagined – and they do it every single day,” said Congressman Joyce . “The PEARL Act supports the mental health of CBP personnel, while giving shelter dogs a new lease on life. I want to thank my colleagues in the House for supporting this legislation, and I urge the Senate to pass it swiftly.” You can watch Congressman Joyce’s speech on the House floor here . House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino said , “CBP personnel work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe, interdict deadly drugs, and disrupt dangerous human smuggling across our borders. This mission can take a real mental and emotional toll on the agents and officers who answer the call to serve. I’m proud to join my House colleagues in supporting Congressman Joyce’s ‘PEARL Act,’ expanding access to canine therapy support for these men and women and ensuring we protect their well-being while they protect the homeland.” “Our nation’s frontline workers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and today the House recognized that we owe it to them to invest in proven mental health programs, so they have the support they need. With the passage of this bill, more frontline officers and agents will be able to receive support canines to help them cope with the many stresses they face while protecting our homeland. I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support, and I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can get this into law,” said Congressman Correa. Background: Border Patrol agents operate in high-stress environments that take a serious toll on mental health. In fiscal years 2016 through 2025, 81 CBP employees died by suicide. In 2023, CBP launched the Support Canine Program to improve staff morale, assist in grief, aid in trauma recovery from critical incidents, and strengthen community outreach. The PEARL Act would enhance CBP’s Support Canine Program by establishing a 3-year pilot program to adopt dogs from local shelters and train them as support dogs. This bill was named after Pearl, the U.S. Border Patrol’s first therapy canine in the Support Canine Program. Read the bill text here . ### Share on