[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 64 (Monday, May 22, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H2985-H2987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PETS EVACUATION AND TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS ACT OF 2005

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3858) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency 
preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with 
household pets and service animals following a major disaster or 
emergency.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3858

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Pets Evacuation and 
     Transportation Standards Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. STANDARDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 
                   OPERATIONAL PLANS.

       Section 613 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196b) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
       ``(g) Standards for State and Local Emergency Preparedness 
     Operational Plans.--In approving standards for State and 
     local emergency preparedness operational plans pursuant to 
     subsection (b)(3), the Director shall ensure that such plans 
     take into account the needs of individuals with household 
     pets and service animals following a major disaster or 
     emergency.''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. 
Chandler) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3858.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3858, originally sponsored by Representative Lantos of 
California and Representative Shays of Connecticut amends the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the 
Director of FEMA to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness 
operational plans take into account the needs of individuals with 
household pets and service animals following a major disaster or 
emergency.
  During the evacuation of the gulf coast region last fall, we learned 
of the difficulty of evacuating household pets and service animals. 
Concerns over whether pets would be permitted to accompany their owners 
made some victims reluctant or unwilling to evacuate, choosing to wait 
out the disaster. The PETS Act would help ensure that household pets 
and service animals are considered by State and local emergency 
preparedness plans.
  I would like to recognize my colleague, Mr. Lantos, who introduced 
this bill soon after Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast. Mr. 
Lantos, a founding member of the Congressional Friends of Animals 
Caucus, has been an outspoken champion for animals.
  I would also like to commend Mr. Shays for his dedication in moving 
this legislation and strong desire to resolve flaws in our Nation's 
emergency management system made apparent by Hurricane Katrina. I was 
lucky to have the opportunity to work with Mr. Shays on the Katrina 
investigation committee.
  Both Mr. Lantos and Mr. Shays have been champions of this issue and 
have worked to ensure that owners don't have to make a choice between 
their personal safety and their pets' safety.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H2986]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3858, the Pets 
Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2005. This legislation 
amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act to require the Director of FEMA to ensure that State and local 
emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of 
individuals with household pets and service animals following a major 
disaster or an emergency.
  It must be a top priority of our Nation to save citizens from any 
disaster, yet we should not underestimate the importance of rescuing 
pets to our ability to help citizens in a disaster. None of us should 
be faced with the choice of abandoning our beloved pets and critically 
needed service animals or risking our own personal safety.
  As we witnessed during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a 
significant number of people chose not to abandon their pets and risked 
their lives to stay with their animals. Some areas of Florida where 
hurricanes are a yearly occurrence have long recognized saving animals 
saves people and include a place for animals in emergency plans. And 
now, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a few areas and other Gulf Coast 
States, including Harrison County, Mississippi, will have its first 
pet-friendly shelter in place for the 2006 hurricane season.
  However, unfortunately, for most of the gulf coast and indeed the 
rest of the country, the issue is still unresolved unless legislation 
like this is approved today. All of us saw many horrible scenes of 
abandoned pets wandering through the flooded city of New Orleans. In 
addition to the humanitarian issue of forcing people to choose between 
their own safety and leaving their pets behind, there are serious 
problems, including health and safety risks to the disaster area, that 
are exacerbated by the abandoning of pets.
  We know that many of these problems can be mitigated or even 
eliminated through proper emergency planning. Fortunately, legislation 
like this helps increase the awareness of lawmakers and emergency 
officials to recognize what animal advocates already know, that pets 
figure strongly in a person's decision to evacuate to safety. And we 
certainly want to encourage our citizens to do just that.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. I applaud Mr. Lantos and Mr. Shays 
for all of their efforts on this bill, and I urge its support.
  Mr. Speaker, I think that Mr. Shuster has already mentioned Mr. 
Lantos' interest in the welfare of animals. It is heartfelt. I have had 
the opportunity to work with Mr. Lantos on the International Relations 
Committee, and I have the great privilege today of introducing him and 
yielding to him such time as he may consume to speak on this very 
important piece of legislation.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and colleague 
on the International Relations Committee from Kentucky (Mr. Chandler). 
I want to thank Mr. Shuster for his extraordinarily gracious gesture. I 
also want to express my appreciation to Chairman Young and Ranking 
Member Oberstar of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and 
the ranking member on that subcommittee, Eleanor Holmes Norton.
  I particularly want to thank my dear friend and colleague of many 
years, Chris Shays, for again joining with me in sponsoring a 
significant and major humane piece of legislation. But my most sincere 
thanks go to my wife, Annette, who has been my guiding light on all 
humane pieces of legislation I have had the privilege of working on.
  Mr. Speaker, the work of my colleagues, along with the Herculean 
efforts of all the animal welfare organizations, will ensure not only 
the safety of household pets and service animals but of their owners in 
moments of potential fatal danger. Families will be able to prepare and 
evacuate from a disaster with more confidence and security knowing that 
all of their family members and their pets will be secure.
  Mr. Speaker, the devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama 
brought unbelievable images into every American home night after night.

                              {time}  1530

  The loss of life and property was staggering. But on top of all of 
that, the sight of evacuees having to choose between being rescued or 
remaining with their pets, perhaps even having to leave behind their 
service animals they rely on every day, was just heartbreaking.
  I was watching television one night, Mr. Speaker, and I saw a 7-year-
old little boy with his dog. His family lost everything, and all they 
had left was their dog. And since legislation such as ours was not yet 
on the statute books, the dog was taken away from this little boy. To 
watch his face was a singularly revealing and tragic experience.
  This legislation was born that moment. Many pieces of legislation we 
pass in this body are the result of months and years of study and 
research and preparation. Not this bill. This bill was born the moment 
the 7-year-old little fellow had to give up his dog because there was 
no provision to provide shelter for his pet.
  The Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act will put an end 
to all of this. Until today, accommodating families with pets or 
disabled citizens with service animals was never considered an 
essential part of any evacuation plan. Our PETS Act requires State and 
local emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation 
plans provisions to accommodate pets or service animals in case of a 
disaster.
  The lack of planning in the past interfered with disaster operations 
in New Orleans where people who were worried about losing their animal 
companions often refused rescuers' help. If evacuees know that their 
pets, who obviously are considered members of their family, are in good 
hands, they will be willing to cooperate with authorities.
  According to the Humane Society of the United States, Mr. Speaker, 
there are 65 million dogs and 77 million cats owned as pets by American 
families. Thousands of visually impaired people depend on guide dogs to 
get around. These faithful pet owners and visually impaired citizens 
must be able to evacuate if in the path of harm, and they must know 
that all members of their family will be safe.
  Since the gulf coast hurricanes, this Nation has endured other 
weather events. In many cases, local authorities made impromptu plans 
for people with pets or service animals. This demonstrates that 
authorities are capable of making effective plans for people with pets 
and service animals. But we cannot let the lessons learned from the 
gulf coast hurricanes be forgotten. Our PETS Act will ensure that years 
from now States will continue to plan for their pet and service animal 
populations. This will ensure a smooth and safe evacuation for all 
members of the family and their pets and service animals.
  I strongly urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
potentially life-saving legislation, life-saving with respect to the 
animals we love, and life-saving with respect to members of our 
families.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Shuster, Mr. Chandler, 
Mr. Young and Mr. Oberstar. I wanted to defer my opportunity to go 
before Mr. Lantos because it needs to be clear this began in the heart 
and mind of Mr. Lantos' wife, and we are merely instruments of her 
goodness.
  I rise, in support of H.R. 3858, the Pets Evacuation and 
Transportation Standards Act, which we do refer to as the PETS Act, 
which Congressman Lantos and I, as co-chairmen of the Friends of 
Animals Caucus, introduced.
  This commonsense bill requires State and local preparedness planners 
to include plans for evacuation of pet owners, pets and service 
animals, as has already been described by previous speakers.
  Hurricane Katrina left so many victims in its wake, including an 
estimated 600,000 animals that either lost their lives or were left 
without shelter. Hurricane Katrina taught us the hard lesson that, as 
we prepare for future emergencies, it is important we incorporate pet 
owners and their pets in our plans.
  Many pet owners had to choose between their safety and the safety of 
their pets, and anyone who owns a pet understands the difficult 
decisions that they had to make.

[[Page H2987]]

  In order to qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding, 
a jurisdiction is required to submit a plan detailing their disaster 
preparedness plan. The PETS Act would simply require State and local 
emergency preparedness authorities to plan for how they would 
accommodate household pets and service animals when presenting these 
plans to FEMA. Animals do not go before people, but animals will have a 
place in this plan.
  The human horror and devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi and 
Alabama was a tragedy we are addressing, but it was also heartbreaking 
to hear stories of forcing evacuees to choose between being rescued or 
remaining with their pets.
  This bipartisan legislation is necessary because when asked to choose 
between abandoning their pets or their personal safety, many pet owners 
chose to risk their lives and would continue today to risk their lives 
and remain with their pets. The plight of the animals left behind was 
truly tragic. This is not just an animal protection issue; this is a 
public safety issue. Roughly two-thirds of American households own 
pets. We need to ensure the pets and their pet owners are protected.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of this legislation. I, too, 
want to make reference to that young man; I guess he was around 7 years 
old. I think of him and think this young man may have lost his home, he 
may have lost everything he owned, but he had his pet. As long as he 
had his pet, he could deal with it. To see this pet being grabbed from 
him, to me it was the height of cruelty that I still have a hard time 
understanding and appreciating.
  When my mom and dad moved when I was 8 or 9 years old to another 
place, our pet dog, Mack, kept running back to the original house, and 
we lost him. For 2 years, I didn't have a pet, but I grew up with a 
pet. Then we moved to a new home and my parents could afford nothing 
else. They told me no Christmas presents. There would be no Christmas 
presents. My Christmas present was a new home, a brand new room, and I 
dealt with that. I thought, this year, no Christmas presents.
  They were gone Christmas Eve day, and they came home that night. They 
didn't tell me where they had been, which was very unusual. I was with 
my three older brothers. Then my parents asked me to come down into the 
garage. As I did, they were walking up holding a beautiful collie pup. 
That night I slept on the floor with Lance, my collie pup.
  I will never forget the joy I had. It was the best Christmas I ever 
had, and it was just one little gift, a pet that remained in our 
household for years.
  This is an important bill, and I urge its passage.
  Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I want to thank Mr. Lantos and his wife, Annette, in particular for 
extending their well-known humanitarian instincts to the welfare of 
animals. I also want to thank Mr. Shays and Mr. Shuster for all of 
their work on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I also want to thank Mr. Lantos and Mr. Shays for their work on this 
bill.
  The PETS Act would help ensure that household pets and service 
animals are considered by State and local emergency preparedness plans 
because there are people in this country, myself included, I have a dog 
Chloe that has a close relationship with my family, and I know people 
throughout this country have pets that are near and dear to their 
hearts.
  When you go to a rooftop, as we saw down in New Orleans as Mr. Shays 
and Mr. Lantos pointed out, people are unwilling to get aboard a boat 
or helicopter if they have to leave their beloved pet behind. Once 
again, this is so States and local emergency preparedness plans take 
into consideration situations that might occur if someone has to 
abandon their pets. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3858, the 
Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2005. This 
bill amends the Stafford Act to ensure that state and local emergency 
preparedness plans account for the needs of individuals with household 
pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.
  There were many tragedies from Hurricane Katrina that will not soon 
be forgotten. Some of the most indelible images were the ones of people 
being forced to choose between leaving their pets behind or being 
evacuated to safety. In many cases, these loyal animals had stayed with 
their owners for days on rooftops waiting to be rescued, only to be 
abandoned because the rescuers refused to carry the pets to safety with 
their owners. In other cases, people chose not to be rescued--putting 
themselves in further danger--because they simply could not bear to 
leave their pets behind.
  A person should not have to leave their seeing-eye dog behind in 
order to save her own life--as we saw in Hurricane Katrina. Nor should 
a child, who has already been traumatized by the devastation of a 
disaster, have to abandon his beloved pet in order to be transported to 
safety--as we saw in Hurricane Katrina. As the June 1st start of the 
next hurricane season approaches, it's important that this bill becomes 
law and that state and local officials start to plan for the evacuation 
of pets and service animals.
  There are, of course, other issues in the wake of Hurricane Katrina 
that this Congress should address. Last week, the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee and the Government Reform Committee favorably 
ordered reported H.R. 5316, the Restoring Emergency Services to Protect 
our Nation from Disasters (RESPOND) Act to the House. The RESPOND Act 
not only restores FEMA as an independent, cabinet-level agency, but it 
also reforms and strengthens our national emergency preparedness system 
so that we never again have to witness such a dismal failure by the 
federal government to respond to its citizens in need as we did with 
Hurricane Katrina.
  H.R. 5316 ensures that FEMA's core functions of preparedness, 
response, recovery, and mitigation will once again coexist and work to 
complement each other in an independent FEMA, and not be separated and 
dismantled as they have been in the Department of Homeland Security.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill we have before us is a much-needed first step 
in a longer process of reforming our emergency management system. I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3858.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3858, the 
Pets and Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2005. 
This is a sample, focused piece of legislation that will require local 
and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their 
evacuation plans how they will accommodate household pets and/or 
service animals in case of a disaster. It deserves our support.
  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita revealed gaping holes in our capacity to 
effectively manage the aftermath of large-scale disasters. Our failures 
in emergency response and evacuation were numerous, and they varied in 
both size and importance. One problem with our response was a blind 
spot in our disaster planning regarding the evacuation of pets and 
service animals. For too many caring animal owners, the opportunity to 
escape danger means separation from a beloved pet. More grievous, the 
evacuation of many residents of the Gulf Region who are dependent on 
service animals was complicated by inflexible regulations that did not 
take their special needs into account.
  H.R. 3858 is commonsense legislation that will ensure planning for 
future disaster provides for the needs of pet owners. This bill is 
support by the Humane Society of the United States, the American 
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Doris Day Animal 
League and the Best Friends Animal Society.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to join in support of 
H.R. 3858.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3858.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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