- CitiesIncreased funding could equip responders, improving remote search and rescue capacity and potentially saving lives.
- Local governmentsFederal cost-sharing up to 75% could lower local and state costs for expensive remote rescues.
- Targeted stakeholdersImproved rescue resources may support recreation and tourism by enhancing visitor safety in remote areas.
Public Land Search and Rescue Act
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 consid…
The Public Land Search and Rescue Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish, within one year, a grant program funding remote search and rescue (SAR) activities on Federal land managed by Interior or Agriculture.
Grants may fund equipment purchases, maintenance, and reimbursements for SAR activities; eligible recipients are States or subdivisions authorized to perform SAR.
The Secretary must prioritize areas with a high visitor-to-resident ratio, and Federal funding may cover up to 75 percent of an eligible purpose's cost.
Content is low‑controversy and administratively simple, but absence of authorized funding and need for bicameral approval reduce near-term prospects.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill creates a clear statutory hook for a federal grant program to support remote search and rescue on Federal lands and specifies core eligible uses and recipients, but it omits several elements typically necessary for a fully executable grant program.
Role of federal funding versus state/local responsibility
Who stands to gain, and who may push back.
- Targeted stakeholdersThe bill contains no explicit appropriation, risking insufficient funds to implement the program effectively.
- Local governmentsFederal administration and application requirements could increase administrative burdens on state and local agencies.
- Federal agenciesThe required non-federal match could strain small or rural jurisdictions' budgets and constrain participation.
Why the argument around this bill splits.
Role of federal funding versus state/local responsibility
Likely supportive because the bill expands public safety resources on federal lands and helps recover lost or injured people.
It aligns with values of protecting individuals, public lands access, and funding local responders.
Concerns might center on equitable distribution and ensuring underserved communities also receive support.
Generally favorable because it addresses a clear, nonpartisan public safety need and uses grants instead of mandates.
Will look for clear cost controls, transparency, and nonduplicative implementation.
Support contingent on reasonable fiscal oversight and measurable program outcomes.
Cautious support for public safety but concerned about federal spending and administrative expansion.
Prefers state-led solutions and worries about federal prioritization and grant dependency.
May press for tighter federal share limits and clearer cost controls.
The path through Congress.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Content is low‑controversy and administratively simple, but absence of authorized funding and need for bicameral approval reduce near-term prospects.
- No authorization of appropriations or funding level specified
- Coordination mechanisms between Interior and Agriculture not detailed
Recent votes on the bill.
No vote history yet
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Go deeper than the headline read.
Role of federal funding versus state/local responsibility
Content is low‑controversy and administratively simple, but absence of authorized funding and need for bicameral approval reduce near-term…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill creates a clear statutory hook for a federal grant program to support remote search and rescue on Federal lands and specifies core eligible uses and recipients, but i…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.