H.R. 4638
Federal Working Animal Protection Act
Sponsor: Ken Calvert
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals Act or the BOWOW Act
This bill establishes that a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) convicted of, or who admits to having committed, an offense related to harming animals used in law enforcement is inadmissible and deportable.
Text of the bill
Where this section came from
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Jul 23, 2025 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary, Jul 23
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Dec 12, 2025 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on the Judiciary, Nov 18 Marked up by House Committee on the Judiciary, Nov 20 Reported by House Committee on the Judiciary, Dec 12 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
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Mar 19, 2026 · Engrossed in House Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Mar 19 H.Amdt. 170: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1115, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in House Report 119-554 is considered as adopted. Official page › H.Res. 1115: On Ordering the Previous Question — Passed, 196–192 · Roll Call 90 H.Res. 1115: On Agreeing to the Resolution — Passed, 196–193 · Roll Call 91 On Passage — Passed, 228–190 · Roll Call 96
This Act may be cited as the
Bill
Federal
to Outlaw Wounding of Official
Working
Animals
Animal
Act
Protection
of 2025 or the BOWOW
Act
of 2025
.
What does "considered adopted" mean?
When a chamber approves a rule that says a change is "considered adopted", the change becomes part of the bill as soon as the rule passes, without a separate vote on the change itself.
What is a markup?
A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.
This Act may be cited as the Federal Working Animal Protection Act.