H. Res. 1059 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

February 23, 2010. 

Whereas a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.0 on the 

Richter scale struck the nation of Haiti at 4:53 p.m. 

(local time) on January 12, 2010; 

Whereas the January 12, 2010, earthquake was the largest 

earthquake to hit the island-nation in over 200 years and 

has caused unconscionable loss of life, affected over 

3,000,000 people, and caused widespread physical devastation to buildings and infrastructure; 

Whereas United States urban search and rescue teams 

(US&R) were immediately activated and deployed from 

Fairfax County, Virginia, Los Angeles County, California, and Miami-Dade County, Florida, to assist the 

United States Agency for International Development 

(USAID) Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART); 

Whereas each US&R task force is comprised of 70 members, 

who are multifaceted and cross trained in the major functional areas of search, rescue, medical, hazardous materials, logistics, and planning, and who are supported by 

trained canines able to conduct physical search and heavy 

rescue operations; 

Whereas task forces have been activated for natural and 

man-made disasters and incidents both at home and 
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abroad, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and the attacks of September 11, 2001; 

Whereas New York City’s first responders asked the Office 

of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to activate 

a New York City US&R task force shortly after the disaster struck; 

Whereas the 511 United States rescue workers comprised 

roughly one-third of the entire international US&R effort 

in Haiti; 

Whereas more than 130 people have been rescued from under 

the rubble in Haiti by the US&R task forces, of whom 

at least 47 were rescued by United States US&R task 

forces; 

Whereas United States US&R task forces deployed to Haiti 

also trained many of the other foreign search and rescue 

task forces in Haiti; 

Whereas, on January 21, 2010, Assistant Secretary of State 

for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David T. Johnson and New York City 

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide the Haitian 

national police, among other police forces, with training 

and technical assistance; and 

Whereas the search and rescue effort in Haiti officially 

transitioned to a long-term humanitarian relief effort on 

January 23, 2010: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) honors the bravery and dedication of the United 

States Agency for International Development, Office of 

U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, and Federal Emer-
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gency Management Agency supported urban search and 

rescue teams, the best trained of these teams in the 

world; 

(2) congratulates the 511 United States urban 

search and rescue workers for the many lives they helped 

to save in Haiti; 

(3) recognizes the contribution of these teams not 

only in the lives that they directly saved, but to the 

international teams that they trained and to the people 

of Haiti; 

(4) expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the 

individuals and organizations that comprise the National 

Urban Search and Rescue System for their unyielding 

determination and work as first responders to victims of 

disasters from all hazards; 

(5) welcomes home the brave first responders of the 

United States urban search and rescue teams; and 

(6) views the work of such teams and volunteers as 

an important part of the Nation’s contribution to the recovery of Haiti. 

Attest: 

Clerk.