[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6883]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, every day and every 
night firefighters, police officers, and other first responders keep 
our communities safe and are ready to respond to emergencies as they 
arise.
  Among all of the dedicated first responders in our cities and towns, 
several local agencies have taken their commitment a step further by 
sponsoring Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces. There are 28 Urban 
Search and Rescue Task Forces around the country, including one in my 
own district, sponsored by the Orange County Fire Authority.
  These task forces stand ready to respond to natural disasters like 
earthquakes and hurricanes, and to terrorist attacks. For example, FEMA 
deployed 25 of the 28 on 9/11, and 28 of the 28 task forces to 
Hurricane Katrina.
  Despite the fact that these task forces are deployed by FEMA, they 
have not been authorized by the Congress and as a result, the task 
force members are not eligible for Federal disability or death benefits 
if they are injured while federally deployed.
  I have introduced H.R. 4183, the National Urban Search and Rescue 
Response System Act of 2007, which could give them the protections that 
they deserve. I hope all Members will join me in moving this 
legislation forward.

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