Senate approves bill to let federal workers assist FEMA with search and rescue efforts

The U.S. Senate passed a bill this week that would allow federal workers to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) efforts.

The National Urban Search and Rescue Parity Act would override a policy that currently bars federal employees from assisting with the FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) efforts. The 2016 National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act gave non-federal employees participating in Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) task forces certain federal protections from risks such as liability, personal injury, illness, disability, or death. Federal employees do not require these explicit protections, because they are protected elsewhere in U.S. Code as full-time employment of the federal government. However, FEMA interpreted it to mean that federal workers are prohibited from participating in these task forces. This bill would change that, providing FEMA with access to more volunteers. Currently, there are 28 US&R task forces across the country.

“The brave men and women of Urban Search and Rescue are vital to saving lives and protecting property when disaster strikes. This bill will ensure federal employees can deploy with their team members when [they’re] called on to keep our communities safe. I’m glad this measure passed the Senate with overwhelming support and is now headed to the president’s desk,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), one of the bill’s sponsors, said.

Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) also sponsored the bill.

“When a community is struck by disaster, we need all hands on deck to help with search and rescue operations, which should include federal employees who want to participate in those efforts. I am encouraged that this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to allow federal employees to join a search and rescue task force has cleared the Senate, and I urge the President to sign this bill into law without delay,” Hassan said.

The bill passed in the House of Representatives in April, which means it goes to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“This bill will enable more Missouri Task Force 1 Members to be deployed. I am so proud of this dedicated group of volunteers who put their lives on the line in times of disaster to help others. It was imperative we fix this glitch in federal law so all dedicated volunteers can be deployed,” Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), who introduced the House version of the bill, said.