[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 177 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 H.R. 4183, TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONSE 
                                 SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2007

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, last night I 
introduced H.R. 4183, a bill to authorize the National Urban Search and 
Rescue Response System.
  The National Urban Search and Rescue Response System is an important 
part of our Nation's all-hazards preparedness and response efforts. 
FEMA established the Urban Search and Rescue Response System in 1989 so 
that local emergency services personnel could act as integrated 
disaster response task forces. However, the system has never been fully 
authorized by Congress. As a result the Taskforces have suffered 
funding shortfalls, and the Taskforce personnel have been deployed 
without the appropriate Federal worker's compensation and employment 
protections.
  Currently the Urban Search and Rescue Response System is made up of 
28 Taskforces that are sponsored by local or State agencies. Most 
Taskforces consist of 70 personnel that are ready to deploy within 6 
hours of activation, for 10-day deployments with 24-hour operations. 
The Taskforces deploy with all the equipment they need and they are 
self-sufficient for 72 hours.
  In the event of a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, an accident, 
or another emergency involving structural collapse, FEMA can deploy any 
or all of the Taskforces to help with the emergency response. 
Taskforces have been deployed to respond to a variety of emergencies 
including earthquakes, hurricanes, and terrorism events like the 
Oklahoma City bombing. In 2001, 25 out of the 28 Taskforces were 
deployed to respond to 9/11. In 2005, all 28 Taskforces were deployed 
to respond to Hurricane Katrina. During that deployment the Taskforces 
searched thousands of collapsed structures in Mississippi and flooded 
structures in New Orleans, resulting in the rescue of 6,587 victims in 
New Orleans alone.
  In my district the Orange County Fire Authority sponsors the fifth 
California Urban Search and Rescue Taskforce. The Orange County Fire 
Authority and the other sponsoring agencies make significant 
commitments to their Taskforces by absorbing Federal funding 
shortfalls, maintaining the necessary equipment, and supporting their 
personnel's participation in training, exercises, prestaging and 
deployments.

  It is time for Congress to provide greater protections to the 
agencies that sponsor Urban Search and Rescue Taskforces and the 
individuals that serve on the Taskforces. H.R. 4183 will authorize $52 
million annually to ensure that sponsoring agencies are not forced to 
absorb a Federal funding shortfall. This legislation will also provide 
Taskforce personnel or their families with Federal injury, illness, 
disability, and death benefits if the Taskforce member is injured 
during a Federal deployment. In addition, this bill provides employment 
protections so that Taskforce members will not lose their jobs because 
they have been deployed by FEMA.
  The National Urban Search and Rescue Taskforces are a valuable 
resource and an excellent example of how local, State and Federal 
Governments can cooperate to effectively prepare and respond to all-
hazard emergencies. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting our 
Nation's Urban Search and Rescue Taskforces, and cosponsoring H.R. 
4183.

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