PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 114-326.
Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Dec 16, 2016
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 7, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act of 2016
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to: (1) continue to administer the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System; (2) provide for a national network of standardized search and rescue resources to assist states and local governments in responding to hazards; (3) designate urban search and rescue teams to participate in the system, determine participation criteria, and enter into an agreement with the state or local government agency sponsoring each team with respect to such participation; and (4) maintain management and technical teams necessary to administer the system.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
FEMA may appoint a system member for a period of federal service to provide for the participation of such member in exercises, pre-incident staging, major disaster and emergency response activities, and training events sponsored or sanctioned by FEMA.
FEMA shall enter into: (1) an annual preparedness cooperative agreement under which amounts shall be made available to a sponsoring agency for training and exercises, acquisition and maintenance of equipment, and medical monitoring required for responder safety and health; and (2) a response cooperative agreement under which FEMA shall reimburse a sponsoring agency for costs incurred in responding to a major disaster or emergency.
FEMA shall submit a report on the development of a plan to finance, maintain, and replace system equipment.
People & committees
Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH] · R–OH
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 114-326.
Became Public Law No: 114-326.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2971 by Unanimous Consent.
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2971 by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7135)
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 7 (Roll no. 615). (text: CR H7310-7311)
House roll call 615 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 7 (Roll no. 615).(text: CR H7310-7311)
House roll call 615 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7325-7326)
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
DEBATE - The House continuned with debate on S. 2971.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2971.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7310-7312)
Mr. Barletta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6623-6626; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S6623-6624; text as passed Senate: CR S6624-6626)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6623-6626; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S6623-6624; text as passed Senate: CR S6624-6626)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 578.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson under authority of the order of the Senate of 07/14/2016 with an amendment. With written report No. 114-307.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson under authority of the order of the Senate of 07/14/2016 with an amendment. With written report No. 114-307.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.2971 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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