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 devas-
tation 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, Cali-
fornia, 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 func-
tional areas of search, rescue, medical, hazardous mate-
rials, 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 at-
tacks 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 dis-
aster 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 En-
forcement Affairs David T. Johnson and New York City 
Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly signed a Memo-
randum 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 re-
covery of Haiti. 
Attest: 
Clerk.