Rep. Bacon advocates Canine Reimbursement Program funding

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) has requested funding for the Canine Reimbursement Program, following President Joe Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget determining the program was zeroed out.

Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson contacted Bacon when the president’s budget request was released.

“I was flabbergasted when Sheriff 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,” Bacon said. “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.”

Bacon’s Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee request for fiscal year 2024 includes $34 million for the program. The proposed allocation keeps it at its current fiscal year 2023 funding level.

“Foreign and domestic terrorism are an unfortunate reality in today’s world,” Hanson said. “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.”