[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6806-H6808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PETS EVACUATION AND TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS ACT OF 2006
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in
the Senate amendment to 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:
Senate amendment:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Pets Evacuation and
Transportation Standards Act of 2006''.
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 prior to, during, and following a
major disaster or emergency.''.
SEC. 3. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MEASURES OF THE DIRECTOR.
Section 611 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) plans that take into account the needs of individuals
with pets and service animals prior to, during, and following
a major disaster or emergency.''; and
(2) in subsection (j)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as
paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) The Director may make financial contributions, on the
basis of programs or projects approved by the Director, to
the States and local authorities for animal emergency
preparedness purposes, including the procurement,
construction, leasing, or renovating of emergency shelter
facilities and materials that will accommodate people with
pets and service animals.''.
SEC. 4. PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH
HOUSEHOLD PETS AND SERVICE ANIMALS FOLLOWING A
DISASTER.
Section 403(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b(a)(3)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) provision of rescue, care, shelter, and essential
needs--
``(i) to individuals with household pets and service
animals; and
``(ii) to such pets and animals.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Oberstar) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield to the
gentleman from Connecticut, who is the prime mover on H.R. 3858, Mr.
Shays.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania. I
would like to just amend the gentleman's comment by saying there are
two prime movers, Mr. Lantos and myself, and I appreciate the
opportunity to speak on this legislation.
I rise in support of H.R. 3858, the Pets Evacuation and
Transportation Act, referred to as the PETS Act, which Congressman
Lantos and I both as cochairmen of the Friends of Animal Caucus
introduced.
This commonsense bill requires State and local preparedness planners
to include plans for evacuation of pet owners, pets, and service
animals. Having passed this legislation once in the House, we now have
an opportunity to include several important provisions that have been
included by the Senate strengthening the bill, and then being able to
send it directly to the President. These provisions include granting
FEMA the authority to assist in developing evacuation plans, and
authorizing financial help to States to create emergency shelters for
people with their animals. Hurricane Katrina left so many victims in
its wake, including up to 600,000 animals that lost their lives or were
left without shelter.
To qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, 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 will
accommodate households with pets or service animals when presenting
these plans to FEMA.
This bipartisan legislation is necessary because it became evident
during Hurricane Katrina, when asked to choose between abandoning their
pets or their own personal safety, many pet owners chose to risk their
lives and remain with their pets, and some of them perished. This is
first a public safety issue, but also an animal welfare issue. Roughly
two-thirds of American households own pets. We need to ensure owners
and their pets are protected.
The human horror and devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama was a failure we needed to immediately address, but it was also
heartbreaking to hear stories of forced evacuees to choose between
being rescued or remaining with their pets. The plight of the animals
left behind was truly tragic.
In the middle of hurricane season, it is imperative that regulations
to include pets in evacuation plans be placed in anticipation of future
tragedies.
This is an important bill. I urge its passage so that we can send it
directly to the President.
Again, I want to thank the chairman for bringing this bill out and
marshaling this bill both times we have been before the Chamber. And I
also want to thank my colleague, my cochairman, Mr. Lantos for all that
he has done. He is a pleasure to work with.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
leader on our side, an advocate for this legislation, the gentleman
from California (Mr. Lantos).
Mr. LANTOS. I want to thank my friend Congressman Oberstar for
yielding. I want to thank Chairman Young of Alaska and Congressman
Oberstar for their stewardship of this important piece of legislation
that my friend Congressman Chris Shays and I introduced, and we are
thrilled and delighted that we have reached this day, and hopefully it
will pass.
I also would like to congratulate our colleagues in the Senate,
Senators Stevens of Alaska and Lautenberg of New Jersey, for leading
the fight to pass the PETS Act by a unanimous vote. In my own office,
three young and committed men worked hard on this legislation, Ron
Grimes, Jason Rosenstock, and Guido Zucconi, and I want to express my
appreciation to them. But primarily I want to thank my wife, Annette,
who, over a long lifetime together, taught me the love of animals.
Mr. Speaker, if I may, I would like to call special attention to
three doggies in our office, Masko, Chippy, and Cassie, who bring a
civilized tone, joy, fun, pleasure, and wit to our congressional
office. Their work, along with the tireless efforts of animal welfare
organizations, will ensure the safety of household pets and service
animals and their owners as well.
Mr. Speaker, before the images of the gulf coast hurricanes of last
year begin to fade from our national memory, it is imperative that we
help our citizens prepare for the next disaster. Our legislation, the
PETS Act, will ensure that families and people with disabilities will
never be forced to choose between being rescued or remaining with their
pets or service animals.
The scene from New Orleans of a 9-year-old little boy crying because
he was not allowed to take his little white dog Snowball was too much
to bear. Personally, I know I wouldn't have been able to leave my
little white dog Masko to a fate of almost certain death.
As I watched the images of the heartbreaking choices the gulf
residents had to make, I was moved to find a way to prevent this from
ever happening again. Requiring local and State emergency planners to
take into consideration the needs of evacuees with household pets and
people with disabilities who have service animals is a simple
[[Page H6807]]
and effective way to ensure saving as many human lives as possible. If
people can leave their homes knowing that all members of their family,
including their pets, will be safe, it will make for a more civilized
and more efficient evacuation.
That is the reason why, along with my colleagues, Mr. Shays, Mr.
Young, Mr. Oberstar, and Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, I introduced the
Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, which we call the PETS
Act. Never before in my long congressional career have I received so
much support and encouragement for a piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker,
not only from citizens in my own district, but from a national audience
that shares my concerns for the safety of these animals and their
owners.
Since the hurricanes of last year, the PETS Act has influenced State
officials to make plans for people with pets and service animals.
Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in Florida have shelters that accept
animals, as well as careful instructions for people forced to leave
their homes who may have animals. This demonstrates that emergency
planners are more than capable of making effective plans for people
with pets or service animals.
Now, more than ever, with hurricane season upon us, this bill is of
the utmost importance. The PETS Act will ensure that States will
continue to plan for their pet and service animal populations, which
will in turn ensure a smoother and safer evacuation for all members of
the family.
On behalf of the tens of millions of families across our Nation who
have pets, I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this important
legislation.
{time} 1800
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am pleased to be here today to pass an important reform to our
emergency management system. Like many Americans, I watched in
disbelief last year as our government struggled to respond to the death
and destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. I believe we were all
shocked by FEMA's performance, given FEMA's outstanding reputation just
a few years earlier.
Breaking FEMA up and burying its pieces within the massive Homeland
Security bureaucracy was a mistake, I believe. Since Hurricane Katrina,
the Transportation Committee, the Select Committee on Hurricane
Katrina, held dozens of hearings on Katrina and drafted the most
comprehensive report on reforming our emergency management system.
Just a few days ago the chairman of the authorizing committees,
Chairman Young, Chairman Davis, Chairman King, Chairman Reichert and I
reached an agreement with the Senate authorizers to rebuild FEMA and
reform the Nation's emergency management system. With the leadership,
authority and resources necessary to respond effectively to the next
disaster, FEMA can once again be a premier agency within the Federal
Government.
I am pleased to have one of these specific reforms on the floor
today, H.R. 3858, the PETS Act, that ensures the needs of people with
household pets and service animals are considered by State and local
emergency preparedness plans.
The Senate amended the PETS Act to permit FEMA to fund structures
that will accommodate pets and service animals and provide essential
assistance to people with pets and service animals following a
disaster.
People become very attached to their pets. I have a Wheaton terrier
that has become part of the family, and it would be very difficult to
leave Chloe behind in a disaster. I certainly can understand and
empathize with those folks who have household pets.
I would like to thank Chairman Young, who is an original sponsor of
this legislation for his leadership and guidance on the bill, and on
the broader emergency management reform bill that will be on the floor,
we hope, next week.
I would also like to commend Mr. Shays for his dedication and hard
work in moving this legislation. Mr. Shays has been a champion of this
issue and has worked to ensure that owners don't have to make a choice
between their personal safety and their pet's safety.
I would also like to commend Mr. Shays for his leadership on the
committee's investigating response to Hurricane Katrina. He worked
tirelessly to resolve the flaws in our Nation's emergency management
system that became apparent during Hurricane Katrina.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
Do I understand, Chairman Shuster, that if we pass this bill tonight,
it goes directly to the President for his signature?
I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
Mr. SHUSTER. That is my understanding, yes, sir.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).
Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Oberstar) and Chairman Shuster, Mr. Shays, and Mr. Lantos for your
support of this bill.
What is noteworthy is that in the last few days, this Congress has
had three pieces of legislation in front of it that have a similar
theme: The tribute that we paid to the Dalai Lama, and yesterday our
support for the one day of peace, and today our support for the PETS
Act, all are about compassion and the recognition of the importance of
compassion in the life of this Nation.
I think it is important for us to reflect that this is a strong
capacity that we have that when we touch it, it touches people's hearts
everywhere.
I encourage my colleagues to join in support of H.R. 3858, the Pets
Evacuation Transportation Standards Act. Passage of this bill is
essential to the safety of all citizens and their pets in emergency and
disaster circumstances. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will long be held
in our collective conscious. It has been just over 1 year since we saw
the terrified and helpless faces of the victims these natural disasters
claimed, displaced, and horrified. The unbearably inadequate response
to these disasters exacerbates the shame, the heartache and insecurity
that has resulted. The images haunt us; and it is not just the images
of our fellow human beings, but that of our gracious household pets and
service animals.
Among the injustices incurred in the gulf coast were citizens forced
to choose between their own safety and that of their pet or service
animals. And the example that Mr. Lantos gave of the 9-year-old boy who
had to part with his beloved dog is an example of the heartbreak that
all of us can relate to.
Some chose to compromise their own safety, unwilling to evacuate
without their pet, despite the great risk to themselves and their
families. Others were forced to leave these important friends behind,
abandoned and alone. Animals were left to survive on their own with
little hope of survival, causing the very understandable human emotions
of pain and agony that accompanied this choice.
Some, dependent upon a service animal for their own safety and
survival, were made to leave their companions behind, a direct threat
to their own security.
It is estimated that well over half of U.S. households include a pet
or vital service animal as a member of the family. In the Kucinich
household, we have three dogs, two beagles and one cocker spaniel, and
anyone who has a pet understands how it would tug at your heart to have
to be separated from that pet in a time of emergency.
We know that the gulf coast region affected by the hurricanes had as
many as 600,000 pets and service animals. Most of these animals could
not be saved, and few have been reunited with their original owners.
H.R. 3858, the PETS Act, will ensure that emergency preparedness for
the safety of our own citizens includes the proper protocol to
identify, evacuate, and shelter people, pets and service animals in
times of emergency evacuations.
Natural disasters are unavoidable; compromising the safety of our
citizens is not. That is why I ask my colleagues to join me in support
of H.R. 3858, the PETS Act, to ensure that in times of disaster no
citizen is forced to compromise their own safety or well-being for that
of their service animal.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
[[Page H6808]]
Mr. Speaker, it is refreshing in a time of perception of
contentiousness in the legislative bodies that we can consider a matter
of this nature and have such thoughtful, constructive, civilized
dialogue on a matter that touches the heart of so many of our fellow
citizens. And how fitting to have a survivor of the Holocaust whose
whole life and career has been concerned with saving people from
tragedy, to lend his voice and his stature, his character and dignity
to saving the lives of pets.
And to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), who has been
associated so much with the process of campaign finance reform and
other similar matters, to lend his support and his concern, his
character, to a matter of this kind and to partner with the gentleman
from California, both coasts joining to support something greater than
all of us.
As others have said, my wife and I watched the horror of Hurricane
Katrina. Jean's home is New Orleans. Her family were there. Two
brothers both had property losses, severe property loss. She knew as
the cameras moved around the city from one street to the next, I walked
that street, I know the people in that house. They have a pet. That dog
is up in the attic and they are not going to leave because they cannot
rescue the pet.
We will now make it possible to avoid such dire choices in the future
by putting in place a structure by which we can accommodate the needs
of people and the lives they lead and the pets they have that are
important to their living.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much. I wanted to
rise and thank Chairman Shuster for marshaling this bill through and
making sure that Members treated it with seriousness.
I thank the ranking member of the full Transportation Committee, Mr.
Oberstar, for his partnership in this effort.
I also thank Congressman Lantos. We have been through many battles
together, and this has been one of the most enjoyable ones.
I also wanted to stand up and acknowledge the fine work of Senator
Collins and the ranking member, Mr. Lieberman, in the Senate for their
help in getting this bill through. Had they not taken action and
treated this bill seriously, we would not be here today. And, frankly,
they made it a better bill. I just wanted to thank Senators Collins and
my friend Joe Lieberman, who I love very dearly.
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I will close very quickly because I am in danger of being labeled as
a big softy if I give too much in the way of closing comments. I will
close by just asking all of my colleagues to support this piece of
legislation which is important to millions and millions of Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Schwarz of Michigan). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster)
that the House suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to
the bill, H.R. 3858.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was
concurred in.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________