To direct the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System.

January 29, 2003

Mr. CORZINE (for himself and Mr. LAUTENBERG) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

To direct the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ADDITION OF TASK FORCE TO NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONSE SYSTEM.

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that--

(1) the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, demonstrated the importance of enhancing national domestic terrorism preparedness;

(2) 26 of the 28 urban search and rescue task forces included in the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System of the Federal Emergency Management Agency were called into action in the wake of the events of September 11;

(3) highly-qualified, urban search and rescue teams not included in the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System were the first teams in New York City on September 11;

(4) the continuing threat of a possible domestic terrorist attack remains an important mission for which the United States must prepare to respond; and

(5) part of that response should be to increase the number of urban search and rescue task forces included in the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System.

(b) ADDITION OF NEW JERSEY TASK FORCE 1- The Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System.

END