Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is calling for more robust federal support to help ensure that when a disaster strikes, members of the National Urban Search & Rescue Response System (US&R) can respond. These heroic task forces deploy to communities across America that need additional help during dangerous crises like wildfires, hurricanes and building collapses, but their work has been underfunded for years.
For the second year in a row, a coalition of lawmakers led by Representatives Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Young Kim (CA-40), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) – and which has grown to over 40 members of Congress from across the country – are urging Congress to include a modest, but desperately-needed, $16 million increase for a total of $56 million in funding for US&R.
America’s US&R Response System includes 28 task forces strategically located across 19 states, and are composed of highly-trained emergency personnel from local fire departments. They are expected to respond to devastating national disasters well beyond their border without commensurate funding from the Federal government to maintain their operations.
US&R has helped communities receive immediate, life-saving assistance during catastrophic events such as the Maui and Los Angeles wildfires, Hurricanes Milton and Katrina, the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Northridge Earthquake, and many other extreme crises. These task forces play a vital role in national disaster response efforts and the lawmakers are seeking full funding for the task forces in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to properly support this heroic work. Last year, the House passed an Appropriations bill with the requested level of funding, but Congress ultimately did not pass full-year spending bills. They are repeating the effort this year.
“Ensuring our US&R task forces are fully funded means ensuring communities across America can depend on them when disaster strikes,” said Rep. Kevin Mullin. “I’m proud that California Task Force 3 is based out of Menlo Park Fire in my congressional district. The time and effort that is put into hosting and maintaining a task force for deployment at a moment’s notice is no small task. These teams represent the gold standard in emergency response and provide lifesaving services to those who are experiencing an unfathomable emergency. Their readiness comes at a cost, and providing adequate federal funding will help us stay prepared and save lives.”
“Urban Search and Rescue teams from across the country are often among the first to help communities and families during times of great loss. Nearly two years after the devastating Maui wildfires, I can still vividly recall US&R teams entering the burn zone while the ground was still hot enough to melt shoes,” said Rep. Jill Tokuda. “I will always be grateful for the comfort and closure they provided, which is why I’m so proud to have joined my colleagues Representatives Kevin Mullin and Young Kim in advocating for increased funding for the US&R system in this year’s appropriations bills. We never know when disaster will strike, but when it does, all Americans deserve to know that US&R will come to their aid.”
“First responders need the proper resources to keep our communities safe during a major disaster, including deadly wildfires and flood events,” said Rep. Young Kim. “The National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System consists of 28 vital task forces made up of federal, state, and local emergency personnel who are on call for rapid deployment to provide emergency medical care and search collapsed buildings. I support our US&R task forces’ lifesaving work and appreciate Orange County Fire Authority Chief Fennessy’s leadership as Western Representative for 9 US&R task forces. I will do my part to protect this program that saves lives.”
US&R Leaders Speak Out for Federal Support
“When disaster strikes, our US&R assets are the backbone of the response effort,” said Joseph R. Downey, Chief of Rescue Operations with Fire Department of the City of New York (NY-TF1), and US&R Task Force Representative-National. “With our extensive training and experience, we form a reliable and adaptable force that operates at the heart of every federal disaster response. New York City, with the largest Fire and Police Departments in the country, received much needed assistance from US&R task forces in response to the 9-11 attacks on the WTC and Hurricane Sandy. Our task forces have consistently gone above and beyond to support the mission, but the lack of funding is hindering our ability to respond effectively. With increased labor and equipment costs, along with the expansion of our mission scope and more frequent deployments, we need your help now more than ever.”
“FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams, sponsored by local government fire agencies like Menlo Park Fire Protection, provide vital, highly trained surge resources to communities that have been struck by catastrophic disasters,” said Mark Lorenzen, Fire Chief, Menlo Park Fire Protection District (CA-TF3). “They are critical in both life saving measures as well as helping move jurisdictions forward to recovery. The teams are struggling financially to cover increasing costs while federal funding lags well behind inflation. I am thankful for the bipartisan efforts of our legislators, including Rep. Kevin Mullin who helped lead this effort to bridge the funding gap to ensure our sustainability.”
“Over the past eight months alone, California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5) activated on a wide range of incidents — from Hurricanes Helene and Milton on the east coast to the Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles — and on each deployment, the investments made in the program were returned beyond measure in the form of lives saved, families rescued, and communities protected,” said Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority (CA-TF5). “As the home of one of only 28 such task forces in the nation, we are grateful for the elected officials, including our own Rep. Young Kim, who not only recognize the program’s importance, but also work to secure increased funding to expand its life-saving services.”
“Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) has been deployed by FEMA nearly 40-times in the past 25 years,” said Evan W. Schumann, OFE, Program Manager (OH-TF1). “Our canine handlers and dogs have been deployed to such events as the State of Washington landslide in 2014, the Kentucky Flooding in 2022, and the Hawaii Wildland Fire. To remain ready to respond to any disaster, OH-TF1 spent 11,696 hrs. of training in 2023 and over 2,647 hrs. of service time (doing work without compensation). The associated personnel costs of OH-TF1’s 2023 activities were almost all uncompensated by federal funding and born on the backs of OH-TF1’s Participating Agencies or team members. I am grateful to Reps. Mullin, Kim and Tokuda for leading the charge to increase funding for the Urban Search & Rescue program that will provide us greater support.”
This letter was signed by Reps. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Wesley Bell (MO-1), Ami Bera (CA-6), Brendan Boyle (PA-2), André Carson (In-7), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Gabe Evans (CO-8), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Mike Flood (NE-1), Jared Golden (ME-2), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (KY-3), Julie Johnson (TX-32), William Keating (MA-9), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Jennifer Kiggans (VA-2), Young Kim (CA-40), John Larson (CT-1), Stephen Lynch (MA-8), Seth Magaziner (RI-2), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Doris Matsui (CA-7), Dave Min (CA-47), Seth Moulton (MA-6), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (C0-7), Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), Greg Stanton (AZ-4), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Jill Tokuda (HI-2), Lori Trahan (MA-3), Derek Tran (CA-45), Frederica Wilson (FL-24).
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