[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1059 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 1059

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                     February 23, 2010.
Whereas a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck the 
        nation of Haiti at 4:53 p.m. (local time) on January 12, 2010;
Whereas the January 12, 2010, earthquake was the largest earthquake to hit the 
        island-nation in over 200 years and has caused unconscionable loss of 
        life, affected over 3,000,000 people, and caused widespread physical 
        devastation to buildings and infrastructure;
Whereas United States urban search and rescue teams (US&R) were immediately 
        activated and deployed from Fairfax County, Virginia, Los Angeles 
        County, California, and Miami-Dade County, Florida, to assist the United 
        States Agency for International Development (USAID) Disaster Assistance 
        Response Team (DART);
Whereas each US&R task force is comprised of 70 members, who are multifaceted 
        and cross trained in the major functional areas of search, rescue, 
        medical, hazardous materials, logistics, and planning, and who are 
        supported by trained canines able to conduct physical search and heavy 
        rescue operations;
Whereas task forces have been activated for natural and man-made disasters and 
        incidents both at home and abroad, including hurricanes, earthquakes, 
        and the attacks of September 11, 2001;
Whereas New York City's first responders asked the Office of U.S. Foreign 
        Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to activate a New York City US&R task force 
        shortly after the disaster struck;
Whereas the 511 United States rescue workers comprised roughly one-third of the 
        entire international US&R effort in Haiti;
Whereas more than 130 people have been rescued from under the rubble in Haiti by 
        the US&R task forces, of whom at least 47 were rescued by United States 
        US&R task forces;
Whereas United States US&R task forces deployed to Haiti also trained many of 
        the other foreign search and rescue task forces in Haiti;
Whereas, on January 21, 2010, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of 
        International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David T. Johnson and 
        New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly signed a Memorandum 
        of Understanding (MOU) to provide the Haitian national police, among 
        other police forces, with training and technical assistance; and
Whereas the search and rescue effort in Haiti officially transitioned to a long-
        term humanitarian relief effort on January 23, 2010: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the bravery and dedication of the United States Agency 
        for International Development, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster 
        Assistance, and Federal Emergency Management Agency supported urban 
        search and rescue teams, the best trained of these teams in the world;
            (2) congratulates the 511 United States urban search and rescue 
        workers for the many lives they helped to save in Haiti;
            (3) recognizes the contribution of these teams not only in the lives 
        that they directly saved, but to the international teams that they 
        trained and to the people of Haiti;
            (4) expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the individuals and 
        organizations that comprise the National Urban Search and Rescue System 
        for their unyielding determination and work as first responders to 
        victims of disasters from all hazards;
            (5) welcomes home the brave first responders of the United States 
        urban search and rescue teams; and
            (6) views the work of such teams and volunteers as an important part 
        of the Nation's contribution to the recovery of Haiti.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.