II 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2548 

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 

Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational 

plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service 

animals following a major disaster or emergency. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 5, 2006 

Mr. STEVENS (for himself and Mr. LAUTENBERG) introduced the following 

bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland 

Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local 

emergency preparedness operational plans address the 

needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pets Evacuation and 

5 Transportation Standards Act of 2006’’. 


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•S 2548 IS

1 SEC. 2. STANDARDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY 

2 PREPAREDNESS OPERATIONAL PLANS. 

3 Section 613 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

4 and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196b) is 

5 amended— 

6 (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub7 section (h); and 

8 (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the fol9 lowing: 

10 ‘‘(g) STANDARDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL EMER11 GENCY PREPAREDNESS OPERATIONAL PLANS.—In ap12 proving standards for State and local emergency prepared13 ness operational plans pursuant to subsection (b)(3), the 

14 Director shall ensure that such plans take into account 

15 the needs of individuals with household pets and service 

16 animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster 

17 or emergency.’’. 

18 SEC. 3. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MEASURES OF THE 

19 DIRECTOR. 

20 Section 611 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

21 and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196) is 

22 amended— 

23 (1) in subsection (e)— 

24 (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

25 the end; 


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•S 2548 IS

1 (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the pe2 riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

3 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(4) plans that take into account the needs of 

5 individuals with pets and service animals prior to, 

6 during, and following a major disaster or emer7 gency.’’; and 

8 (2) in subsection (j)— 

9 (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) 

10 through (8) as paragraphs (3) through (9), re11 spectively; and 

12 (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 

13 following: 

14 ‘‘(2) The Director may make financial contribu15 tions, on the basis of programs or projects approved 

16 by the Director, to the States and local authorities 

17 for animal emergency preparedness purposes, includ18 ing the procurement, construction, leasing, or ren19 ovating of emergency shelter facilities and materials 

20 that will accommodate people with pets and service 

21 animals.’’. 


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•S 2548 IS

1 SEC. 4. PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVID2 UALS WITH HOUSEHOLD PETS AND SERVICE 

3 ANIMALS FOLLOWING A DISASTER. 

4 Section 403(a)(3) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

5 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

6 5170b(a)(3)) is amended— 

7 (1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

8 the end; 

9 (2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period 

10 and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

11 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(J) provision of rescue, care, shelter, and 

13 essential needs— 

14 ‘‘(i) to individuals with household pets 

15 and service animals; and 

16 ‘‘(ii) to such pets and animals.’’. 

Æ 


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