NEWS AND OPINION:

“Congress is going to the dogs.”

That phrase comes to us from American Humane — founded in 1877 to promote the welfare and safety of animals. The organization will visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday in support of legislation that protects the nation’s working canines.

And a round of applause for those pups — be they Transportation Security Administration dogs at the nation’s airports, or K-9 heroes on the job at U.S. borders.

Here’s the legislation of note.

The Working Dog Health and Welfare Act (S.2414) — sponsored by Sens. Mike Braun, Indiana Republican, and Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona independent — has already passed in the Senate. The bill would establish rigorous standards to ensure the working dogs supporting U.S. federal agencies in airports and elsewhere receive helpful and humane treatment.

The PETSAFE Act (H.R.5175), — introduced by Reps. Adam Schiff, California Democrat, Dina Titus, Nevada Democrat, and Brian Mast, Florida Republican — would create a pilot grant program for mobile pet shelters for use in emergencies and major natural disasters.

Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane, will attend the event — along with guest dogs and their human partners as well. They are:

• Retired Air Force Sgt. Micah Jones and Summer, a retired explosives-detection dog who deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq with the Marines before joining the Amtrak Police Department.

• Katie Harris and her service dog Moxie — a mini goldendoodle who saved her life.

• Kelly Brownfield and Maverick, a Great Dane serving as a therapy dog for the United Service Organizations, or USO.

• Jeff Callaway and his rescue dog Ethan, who serves as an “ambassador” for other shelter pets, according to the organizers.

Find more information on American Humane at AmericanHumane.org.

WHAT ELSE TO WATCH THIS WEEK

Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has issued his weekly “Committee Cliff Notes,” which offer a handy peek at what House Republican committees are up to at the moment.

The 15 committees will tend to 27 different hearings focused on assorted legislative matters on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here are a few planned for Tuesday alone, verbatim from the source:

The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security will hold a hearing titled “Combating the Gray Zone: Examining Chinese Threats to the Maritime Domain.”

The Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education will hold a hearing called “The Consequences of Biden’s Border Chaos for K-12 Schools.”

The Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold an oversight hearing titled “Biden’s Border Crisis: Examining Efforts to Combat International Criminal Cartels & Stop Illegal Drug Trafficking Targeting Indian Country.”

The Committee on Small Business will hold a full committee hearing called “Weaponizing Federal Resources: Exposing the SBA’s Voter Registration Efforts.”

The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security will hold a hearing titled “The Social Security Trust Funds in 2024 and Beyond.”

The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a full committee oversight hearing titled “Bonus Blunder: Examining VA’s Improper Decision to Award Senior Executives Millions in Incentives.”

THE CONFIDENCE DEFICIT

One pollster advises that there’s a “confidence deficit” in the White House.

“President Biden may have reached a point of no return as he fights for a second term amidst a stagflationary economy, a worsening situation at a porous border, and an unstable Middle East,” reports TippInsights.com, home of the Tipp Poll.

It found that 52% of the respondents disapprove of the overall job the president is doing, 36% approve and 12% are not sure.

“Fewer than 33% of U.S. adults give the president favorable grades on all ten issues the TIPP Poll tracks monthly,” the TippInsights editorial board wrote in an analysis released Monday.

The pollster asked respondents to assign letter grades to the president’s overall job performance on important issues. The results: The president received a D+ from the respondents on his overall performance as president so far.

Then we come to specific issues. Mr. Biden also received a D+ on the way he is handling violence and crime, the economy, the Israel-Hamas conflict, antisemitism in the U.S., spending and taxes, and his approach to Iran, China. North Korea and the Russia-Ukraine war. Mr. Biden earned a D on the way he has handled border security. The Tipp Poll of 1,910 U.S. adults was conducted online May 29-31.

HOGAN LOOKS BACK

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan had a response to recent news from Moody’s. Though Maryland enjoys an AAA bond rating, the credit rating agency has downgraded the state’s credit outlook from stable to negative.

“During my time as governor, we worked in a bipartisan way to maintain fiscal discipline, balance our budgets, and ensure the financial health of our state while cutting taxes by $4.7 billion. After inheriting a $5.1 billion structural deficit, we left office with a record $5.5 billion in reserves. Shortly before leaving office, I urged state leaders to continue our commitment to fiscal prudence,” Mr. Hogan said in a statement.

“I am saddened to see Maryland’s fiscal trajectory heading in the direction of Washington D.C. Marylanders deserve a government that is committed to ensuring long-term fiscal stability. I hope this downgrade is a wake-up call to abandon all the talk in Annapolis of record tax increases and more reckless spending,” he said.

“Now more than ever, Maryland needs leaders who will fight for tax relief and fiscal responsibility, and that is exactly what I will do in the United States Senate,” said Mr. Hogan — who is indeed running for senator.

POLL DU JOUR

• 62% of U.S. adults say national security is “very important”; 77% of Republicans, 57% of independents and 54% of Democrats agree.

• 28% say national security is “somewhat important”; 19% of Republicans, 31% of independents and 33% of Democrats agree.

• 8% say national security is “not very important”; 2% of Republicans, 10% of independents and 10% of Democrats agree.

• 3% say national security is “unimportant”; 2% of Republicans, 3% of independents and 3% of Democrats agree.

SOURCE: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,748 U.S. adults conducted May 25-28.

• Contact Jennifer Harper at jharper@washingtontimes.com

• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.