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-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Land Search 
and Rescue Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR REMOTE SEARCH AND RES-
CUE ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall establish a program (in this Act referred to 
as the ‘‘Program’’) to allocate resources to remote search 
and rescue activities conducted on lands under the juris-
diction of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
(b) GRANT AUTHORITY.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, the Secretary may award a grant on a competitive 
basis in accordance with this section. 
(c) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary may 
award a grant under the Program to a State, political sub-
division thereof, or their designee, that conducts search 
and rescue operations, determined by the Secretary to 
have the authority and capability to carry out a project 
described in subsection (d). 
(d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Grant funds awarded 
under the Program may be used— 
(1) by an eligible recipient to purchase equip-
ment and gear necessary for remote search and res-
cue activities; 
(2) to reimburse an eligible recipient for the 
cost of maintenance and repair of remote search and 
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rescue equipment owned or leased by an eligible re-
cipient; and 
(3) by an eligible recipient to reimburse State 
and local agencies responsible for remote search and 
rescue activities. 
(e) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for a grant 
under the Program, an eligible recipient shall submit 
to the Secretary an application in such form, at such 
time, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary determines to be appropriate. 
(2) ADDITIONAL APPLICATION.—An eligible re-
cipient may submit to the Secretary an additional 
application in such form, at such time, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary deter-
mines to be appropriate for additional funding for 
purposes under subsection (d)(2). 
(f) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall prioritize an ap-
plication from an eligible recipient who serves an area with 
a high ratio of visitors to residents. 
(g) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of assist-
ance under the Program shall be 75 percent of the cost 
of an eligible project. 
(h) REMOTE SEARCH AND RESCUE ACTIVITY DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘remote search and res-
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cue activity’’ means an activity that utilizes, trains, or sup-
ports responders with specialized equipment to locate, pro-
vide assistance to, and remove to safety individuals who 
are lost, injured, stranded, or entrapped in remote areas. 
Æ 
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