[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise in support of this resolution which 
was drafted by my esteemed colleague from Maine, Senator Susan Collins, 
and thank my other colleagues who have cosponsored this resolution. 
This resolution was previously introduced in the 107th Congress, passed 
the Senate, but, unfortunately, time ran out in the House of 
Representatives to be passed. This resolution reflects the resolution 
introduced in the 107th Congress and is supported by the emergency 
managers from the participating States.
  Disasters know no boundaries. In January 1998, the worst ice storm in 
our region's history demolished power lines from Quebec, through 
upstate New York, across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and into the 
Maritimes. As many as 4 million people were without electricity, some 
700,000 for as long as 3 weeks, and damage topped $6 billion. And in 
August 2003, a blackout left millions of American and Canadian citizens 
and businesses again without electrical power. These events, and many 
of the more than 100 federally declared disasters in the Northeast in 
this past quarter century, have necessitated State and provincial 
emergency management organizations to request out-of-jurisdiction 
mutual assistance to deal with the emergency.
  In response to the ice storm, in June 1998, the New England Governors 
Conference and Eastern Canadian Premiers signed and later adopted, in 
July 2000, the International Emergency Management Assistance Compact, 
more commonly referred to as the compact. The compact is an arrangement 
of necessity in providing mutual assistance amongst jurisdictions for 
managing any type of emergency, or disaster, whether arising from 
natural, technological, or man-made causes. The State of Maine, along 
with New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and 
Connecticut, has entered into such a compact with the provinces of our 
good Canadian neighbor of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, 
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
  This compact arrangement provides the form and structure to the 
international mutual aid and addresses such issues as liability, 
payment, et cetera, in advance, before an emergency occurs, allowing 
for expedited deployment of resources and personnel at the time of the 
emergency. One crucial lesson learned of Hurricane Katrina is that in 
the aftermath of such a crisis, emergency responders need to focus on 
recovery, and not bureaucratic processes and redtape. Having this 
compact in place enables our emergency responders to focus on their 
mission of response and to avoid cross-jurisdictional obstacles.
  Enhancing an environment of joint communication, coordination and 
cooperation is crucial for a more secure region and an effective 
emergency response capability, and an International Emergency 
Management Group meets regularly to do just this, by implementing the 
compact and working closely together to develop plans, train and 
exercise for disasters and emergencies. This compact concept serves the 
best interests of our citizens of the United States, and of Canada, our 
good northern neighbor, as well.
  In summary, the best way to handle an emergency is to forward plan 
and to take as many actions of readiness and preparedness as possible, 
in advance, and as feasible. Our readiness and preparedness 
capabilities are indeed most enhanced when an obstacle-free platform is 
created for our emergency responders. This compact arrangement does 
just that, particularly addressing international and cross-
jurisdictional issues. It is for this reason, I urge my fellow 
colleagues to, again, support this resolution.

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