Legislation led by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to strengthen the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster response capabilities and programs cleared the Senate last week with bipartisan support.
At least 11 percent of the search and rescue task force is comprised of non-affiliated members who are not employed by a sponsoring or participating agency and are not covered by the same reemployment rights as system members, a FEMA report found.
Portman introduced the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act, S. 2791, to clarify that existing workers compensation and liability protections apply to volunteers who serve on search and rescue teams, to allow for the election of benefits, and to extend reemployment rights to those who deploy as federal volunteers.
“This vote puts us one step closer to helping our search and rescue teams get the protections and resources they need,” Portman said.
“Volunteers serving on search and rescue teams like Ohio Task Force One leave their families at a moment’s notice when they are called upon to provide vital support to disaster areas. These brave volunteers and their families deserve to know that when they deploy to dangerous areas and risk their health, their employment and their personal liability, that when they put it all on the line, we are there for them,” he said.
Ohio Task Force One and other search and rescue teams responded to disasters like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and most recently Hurricane Matthew.
The bill would also extend reemployment rights to system members who deploy as federal volunteers, allowing for employees who fill system member positions to be reimbursed.
Additionally, the FEMA director would be required to draft a comprehensive plan to finance and replace outdated equipment needed for task forces to respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive incidents.