[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H671-H673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE HEROISM OF THE SEVEN URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS 
                           DEPLOYED TO HAITI

  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1059) honoring the heroism of the seven United 
States Agency for International Development and Office of U.S. Foreign 
Disaster Assistance supported urban search and rescue teams deployed to 
Haiti from New York City, New York, Fairfax County, Virginia, Los 
Angeles County, California, Miami, Florida, Miami-Dade County, Florida, 
and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and commending their dedication and 
assistance in the aftermath of the January 12, 2010, Haitian 
earthquake, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1059

       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;

[[Page H672]]

       (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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McMahon) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, on January 12, 2010, the most devastating earthquake 
to strike Haiti in over 200 years ravaged the island nation and took 
with it hundreds of thousands of lives. The aftermath of this tragic 
earthquake will undoubtedly be felt for years to come, but through the 
tragedy over 50 Haitian and American families celebrated the moment 
when their loved ones were rescued from the rubble by the 511 brave 
volunteers of the USAID/OFDA-supported urban search and rescue teams 
deployed to Haiti.
  These teams, which hail from New York City; Fairfax County, Virginia; 
Los Angeles County, California; Miami, Florida; Miami-Dade County, 
Florida; and Virginia Beach, Virginia, in most cases alerted their 
rescue team commanders that they were ready and willing to serve in 
Haiti even before their activation by OFDA. Their heroism is a true 
testament to the American spirit and the underlying concern of all 
Americans toward their neighbors and friends.
  While highly skilled and experienced in this type of dangerous work, 
the challenges facing the search and rescue teams in the aftermath of 
this devastating earthquake were particularly daunting. One night, as 
New York's Task Force One team had already gone to base camp, the team 
rushed back to the streets of Port-au-Price when they heard rumors that 
there were still children trapped in rubble nearby. That night, an 8-
year-old boy was pulled by the team from the rubble and thanked his 
rescuers with a big hug and a big smile. The rescue team also saved a 
little girl buried in the same massive pile of rubble where the team 
recovered the bodies of three other children that day.
  The U.S. task force teams arrived in Haiti completely self-reliant. 
They brought their own shelter, food, and equipment. New York City Fire 
Commissioner and Staten Island native Sal Cassano says the groups that 
were sent to Haiti were among the best trained in the world by, of 
course, his department and the police department led by Commissioner 
Ray Kelly. The teams assisted in all types of search and rescue 
operations, including concrete removal, void searches, and confined 
space searches. They truly made a difference in the lives that they 
saved and in the other international search and rescue teams which they 
trained as well.
  Altogether, the international search and rescue effort in Haiti 
resulted in over 130 lives saved. And although the search and rescue 
phase of the disaster relief effort in Haiti is over, many of the 
rescuers and members of the New York City Police Department have stayed 
on or will return to provide the Haitian national police, among other 
police forces, with training and technical assistance.
  It is essential that immediate rescue and relief efforts be followed 
with a sustained commitment to Haiti's long-term reconstruction and 
development, and I commend President Obama, with the support of this 
Congress, and his able team for their leadership in this area.
  I commend the great heroism of the seven United States search and 
rescue teams that served in Haiti and welcome them back to their homes 
and families in New York, California, Virginia, and Florida.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today as a proud original cosponsor of the bill before us, 
House Resolution 1059.
  In the days following this horrific disaster, many of us watched the 
endless news cycles with cautious hope as search and rescue efforts 
were streamed live around the world. With bated breath, we watched as 
time after time earthquake survivors miraculously appeared from the 
rubble, each rescue helping to reinforce the faith, the strength, and 
the determination of all who were and are involved in the relief 
efforts in Haiti.
  More than 130 individuals were ultimately saved from the rubble in 
the weeks following the earthquake, more rescues of survivors over more 
days than ever before. This is a testament to both the survivors and 
the rescuers. The U.S. search and rescue units are the best trained in 
the world. Without hesitation, several of these teams deployed almost 
immediately following the earthquake. We ultimately sent seven of our 
best teams, roughly compromising one-third of the entire urban search 
and rescue effort in Haiti. My own district was proud to send one team 
from both the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County.
  Importantly, however, this resolution also recognizes the entire 
urban search and rescue team system that we have operating in this 
great country of ours. Because the U.S. swiftly contributed seven 
courageous teams to the search and rescue efforts in Haiti, there were 
a number of additional teams standing ready to deploy should they be 
called upon. It is this compassion and this courage which characterizes 
the spirit of the American people.
  Helping to train and work with various international search and 
rescue teams on the ground, there is no doubt that the contributions of 
our urban search and rescue teams went far and beyond the many lives 
that they saved.
  I had the honor to meet with Mr. Dave Downey, the team leader of the 
Miami-Dade County urban search and rescue unit, just a couple of weeks 
ago here in D.C. to thank and congratulate him for the heroic service 
not just of Mr. Downey, but of his entire team. And I extend my 
heartfelt gratitude to all our urban search and rescue workers who 
deployed in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake.
  I talked about the Miami-Dade part of this rescue effort, but I also 
commend Miami Fire Chief Maurice Kemp and the City of Miami Department 
of Fire-Rescue for their heroic service in these efforts. The word 
``team'' comes up a lot in this resolution, and that is how they acted, 
as a team, not as one unit versus another, but how we can come together 
as a nation. They represented the best of what America has to offer.
  I thank my good friend, the Congressman, for introducing this 
important measure. I encourage my colleagues to support it. And I am so 
glad that Mr. McMahon put in there the contributions of Miami and 
Miami-Dade rescue units.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
1059--Honoring the heroism of the seven United States Agency for 
International Development and Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster 
Assistance supported urban search and rescue teams deployed to Haiti 
from New York City, New York, Fairfax County, Virginia, Los Angeles 
County, California, Miami, Florida, Miami-Dade County, Florida, and 
Virginia Beach, Virginia, and commending their dedication and 
assistance in the aftermath of the January 12, 2010 Haitian earthquake.
  As you know, on Tuesday, January 12th, a massive, 7.0 magnitude 
earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince. There is 
still no official estimate of death or destruction but the damage to 
buildings is extensive and the number of injured or dead is estimated 
to be in the hundreds of thousands.
  America is responding, and will continue to respond with immediate 
humanitarian assistance to help the people of this struggling island 
nation rebuild their livelihoods. I send my condolences to the people 
and government of Haiti as they grieve once again in the aftermath of a 
natural disaster. As Haiti's neighbor, I believe it is the United 
States' responsibility

[[Page H673]]

to help Haiti recover, and build the capacity to mitigate against 
future disasters.
  To date the United States Government has contributed over $402 
million in earthquake response funding for Haiti. It has also deployed 
approximately 17,000 military personnel in support of the relief 
effort. Subsequently, as part of the new Government of Haiti-led 
effort, the U.N. World Food Program will provide commodities, non-
governmental organizations will manage distributions, and U.S. Military 
will provide security escorts.
  American and her allies have already initiated a comprehensive, 
interagency response to the earthquake. The State Department, 
Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, 
USAID--all worked overnight to ensure critical resources were 
positioned to support the response and recovery effort, including 
efforts to find and assist American citizens in Haiti.
  Within days of last week's devastating earthquake, U.S. Southern 
Command deployed a team of 30 people to Haiti to support U.S. relief 
efforts in the aftermath of one of the largest natural disasters in the 
western hemisphere. The team included U.S. military engineers, 
operational planners, and a command and control group and communication 
specialists arriving on two C-130 Hercules aircraft. Since, there has 
been a tremendous interagency response with support and partnering with 
U.S. Embassy personnel as well as Haitian, United Nations and 
international officials to assess the situation and facilitate follow 
on U.S. military support.
  Within hours of the earthquake, the United States sent world-class 
teams of search and rescue to help search for survivors. These teams, 
from all across the country comprised roughly one-third of the entire 
international USAR effort in Haiti. In total, the United States sent 
over five hundred and eleven rescue workers. These rescue workers 
worked tirelessly to search for survivors, and found and rescued more 
than 130 people from under the rubble. Without these search and rescue 
units, it is possible that these people would not have been located in 
time to save their lives.
  The search and rescue teams were, quite literally, our first 
responders. At a moment's notice these men and women packed their bags 
and left their homes to confront the aftermath of the largest natural 
disaster in recent memory. I commend them for their readiness and 
tireless commitment to saving lives. Madam Speaker, over a month has 
passed since the earthquake, the search and rescue missions have ended, 
and Haiti has transitioned to long term reconstruction and development.
  Recently, I proposed a plan that would increase the ability of the 
U.S. to assist Haiti in its efforts toward reconstruction and 
stabilization to Dr. Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency 
for International Development.
  This plan would create an oversight position within the USAID that 
would coordinate and regulate faith-based and non-profit organizations 
operating in the reconstruction efforts in Haiti. I also recommended 
the creation of a U.S. civilian corps, an extension of the American 
Peace Corps, that would be tasked the specific mission of assisting 
reconstruction efforts in Haiti. This civilian entity would serve as a 
supplemental contingent which could be incrementally dispatched as 
needed by U.S. Government agencies or Nongovernment Organization.
  Once again I stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti and will do 
everything in my power to assist them with rebuilding their country and 
livelihoods. I am proud of our first responders, and pledge that 
America's long term commitment to Haiti will live up to the standard 
that the first responders set.
  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1059, a 
resolution honoring the heroism of the seven urban search and rescue 
teams deployed to Haiti from New York City, New York; Fairfax County, 
Virginia; Los Angeles County, California; Miami, Florida; Miami-Dade 
County, Florida; and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and commending their 
dedication and assistance in the aftermath of the horrific January 12 
Haitian earthquake.
  I was pleased to be an original cosponsor of this resolution which 
congratulates the more than 500 rescue workers, some of whom are from 
my congressional district in Fairfax County, for the lives they helped 
save and for the work they undertook to train additional international 
teams working in Haiti.
  The enormity of the destruction that Haiti has experienced is 
difficult to comprehend. But in the face of this devastation, selfless 
men and women from around our country have given of their time and 
talents to help a people and a nation in desperate need. I join my 
colleagues in recognizing and thanking them for their service.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McMAHON. I thank the ranking member of the committee for those 
remarks, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. McMahon) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1059, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. McMAHON. Madam 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 motion will be 
postponed.

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