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WASHINGTON – On the heels of the deadly Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) joined a bipartisan group of representatives in a letter urging Congress to include $21.6 million for America’s National Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) task forces to replace aging and obsolete rescue equipment that could put future rescue efforts, the public, and first responders at risk.

US&R task forces are always on call to deploy to dangerous, life-threatening disasters, but their work has been underfunded for years. The letter was led by U.S. Representatives Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-2), and Rep. Young Kim (CA-40).

“As soon as they got the call, first responders from each task force left their own communities to travel across the country to help people they had never met. This system and those who make it work are inspiring examples of how Americans come together in times of crisis,” the Members wrote.

US&R task forces are part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) mutual aid system, and this vital nationwide emergency response includes 28 task forces stationed in 19 states around the country. Each US&R task force is comprised of highly trained personnel from local emergency or fire departments, with much of the associated costs falling upon the local agencies hosting these groups. 

Leaving their own communities behind, the responders deploy on a moment’s notice to a wide range of catastrophic events like wildfires, earthquakes, extreme storms, terrorist attacks, and many other disasters that surpass the capabilities of local communities to respond to alone.

In just the past two months, US&R task forces from across the country deployed to Florida, Georgia and North Carolina to lead efforts where they rescued hundreds of people following the disastrous Hurricanes Helene and Milton.  

A 2018 FEMA report to Congress found that the US&R System requires additional funding to meet its needs, such as replacing outdated vehicles and equipment. As Congress considers a supplemental funding bill to support disaster recovery, the lawmakers note that this is an opportunity to fund US&R’s longstanding needs. 

“The stability of the US&R program – and therefore the task forces’ ability to respond effectively to disasters – is put at risk when task forces do not have the equipment they need. Six years later, Congress has thus far funded only a portion of the 2018 plan. Adjusted for inflation, the US&R System still requires $21.6 million to meet its deferred capital needs,” the Members continued. 

Please click here to review the full text of the letter.

In addition to Reps. Alford, Mullin, Tokuda, and Kim, the letter was signed by Rep. Ami Bera (CA-6), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Mike Flood (NE-1), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jen Kiggans (VA-2), Stephen Lynch (MA-8), Seth Moulton (MA-6), Scott Peters (CA-50), and Brittany Pettersen (CO-7) .