What This Bill Does
This bill tells the Secretary of the Interior to create a grant program that gives money to states and local governments for search and rescue activities in remote areas. The grants pay for equipment, repairs and costs related to finding and helping people who are lost, injured or stranded on federal lands.
Who It Affects
States and their subdivisions that run search and rescue operations will be able to apply for grant money. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture manage the lands where these rescues happen. Federal taxpayers will fund 75 percent of the costs.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of the Interior must set up the grant program within one year of this law passing (Sec. 2(a))
- States and local governments can use grant money to buy equipment and gear needed for remote search and rescue work (Sec. 2(d)(1))
- Grant money can also pay for fixing and maintaining search and rescue equipment that a state or local group owns or rents (Sec. 2(d)(2))
- The Secretary will give priority to applicants who serve areas with lots of visitors compared to residents living there (Sec. 2(f))
- The federal government pays 75 percent of the cost for eligible projects, and the state or local group pays the remaining 25 percent (Sec. 2(g))
What Changes
States and local search and rescue organizations gain access to federal grant funding they did not have before. They can now apply for money to buy equipment and cover operating costs for remote rescue operations on federal lands.
Important Definitions
"Remote search and rescue activity" means work that uses special equipment and trained responders to find people, help them and bring them to safety when they are lost, hurt, stuck or trapped in remote areas (Sec. 2(h))
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 439
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to
allocate resources for remote search and rescue activities, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 20, 2023
Mr. STEWART (for himself and Mr. CASE) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to
the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant
program to allocate resources for remote search and res-
cue activities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Land Search
4
and Rescue Act’’.
5
VerDate Sep 11 2014
01:11 Feb 01, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H439.IH
H439
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2
•HR 439 IH
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR REMOTE SEARCH AND RES-
1
CUE ACTIVITIES.
2
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the
3
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the
4
Interior shall establish a program (in this Act referred to
5
as the ‘‘Program’’) to allocate resources to remote search
6
and rescue activities conducted on lands under the juris-
7
diction of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary
8
of the Interior.
9
(b) GRANT AUTHORITY.—In carrying out the Pro-
10
gram, the Secretary may award a grant on a competitive
11
basis in accordance with this section.
12
(c) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary may
13
award a grant under the Program to a State, political sub-
14
division thereof, or their designee, that conducts search
15
and rescue operations, determined by the Secretary to
16
have the authority and capability to carry out a project
17
described in subsection (d).
18
(d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Grant funds awarded
19
under the Program may be used—
20
(1) by an eligible recipient to purchase equip-
21
ment and gear necessary for remote search and res-
22
cue activities;
23
(2) to reimburse an eligible recipient for the
24
cost of maintenance and repair of remote search and
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
01:11 Feb 01, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H439.IH
H439
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3
•HR 439 IH
rescue equipment owned or leased by an eligible re-
1
cipient; and
2
(3) by an eligible recipient to reimburse State
3
and local agencies responsible for remote search and
4
rescue activities.
5
(e) APPLICATION.—
6
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for a grant
7
under the Program, an eligible recipient shall submit
8
to the Secretary an application in such form, at such
9
time, and containing such information as the Sec-
10
retary determines to be appropriate.
11
(2) ADDITIONAL APPLICATION.—An eligible re-
12
cipient may submit to the Secretary an additional
13
application in such form, at such time, and con-
14
taining such information as the Secretary deter-
15
mines to be appropriate for additional funding for
16
purposes under subsection (d)(2).
17
(f) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall prioritize an ap-
18
plication from an eligible recipient who serves an area with
19
a high ratio of visitors to residents.
20
(g) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of assist-
21
ance under the Program shall be 75 percent of the cost
22
of an eligible project.
23
(h) REMOTE SEARCH AND RESCUE ACTIVITY DE-
24
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘remote search and res-
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
01:11 Feb 01, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H439.IH
H439
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4
•HR 439 IH
cue activity’’ means an activity that utilizes, trains, or sup-
1
ports responders with specialized equipment to locate, pro-
2
vide assistance to, and remove to safety individuals who
3
are lost, injured, stranded, or entrapped in remote areas.
4
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
01:11 Feb 01, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H439.IH
H439
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB