Public Land Search and Rescue Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3777
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-05: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-18T09:07:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Public Land Search and Rescue Act (H.R. 3777) aims to improve safety on federal lands by creating a federal grant program to fund remote search and rescue (SAR) operations. It focuses on providing resources for activities in hard-to-reach areas managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture, helping to locate, assist, and rescue people who are lost, injured, or deceased.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of Program: The Secretary of the Interior must create the grant program within one year of the bill's enactment to allocate resources for remote SAR activities on federal lands under the Interior Secretary's or Agriculture Secretary's jurisdiction.
- Eligibility and Application: Grants go to "eligible recipients," defined as states, local governments (or their designees) that are legally authorized to conduct remote SAR and have the ability to manage funded projects. Recipients apply using forms and details specified by the Secretary.
- Prioritization: Applications from areas with a high ratio of visitors to residents (e.g., popular national parks or forests) receive priority to address high-risk zones.
- Funding Limits: The federal government covers up to 75% of eligible costs; recipients must provide the remaining share.
- Eligible Uses of Funds:
- Buying specialized equipment and gear for remote SAR.
- Maintaining or repairing SAR equipment owned or leased by recipients.
- Reimbursing costs for actual remote SAR operations on federal lands.
- Definitions:
- Remote SAR activity: Operations using trained responders and specialized tools to find and recover deceased individuals or to locate, aid, and safely extract lost, injured, stranded, or trapped people in remote areas.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new grant program, which does not appear to amend or replace any prior laws. It adds a dedicated federal funding mechanism for remote SAR on public lands, filling a potential gap in current resource allocation for state and local responders operating in federal jurisdictions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior will need to administer the program, including reviewing applications and distributing funds, which may require additional staff or budget. The Department of Agriculture benefits indirectly through improved SAR on its lands (e.g., national forests) without direct administrative burden.
- Citizens: Enhances public safety for hikers, campers, and others visiting remote federal areas by supporting faster, better-equipped rescues, potentially reducing risks and response times in high-traffic locations.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic federal lands.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily the Department of the Interior (leads program) and Department of Agriculture (lands involved).
- State and Local Governments: Eligible recipients, including SAR teams and emergency services, who gain access to funding for equipment and operations.
- Public Users: Visitors, recreationists, and residents near federal lands who rely on SAR services.
- Responders: Trained SAR personnel who benefit from better resources and reimbursements.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes clear eligibility criteria and funding caps to ensure accountable use of federal dollars, with no reimbursement for non-federal lands. It promotes coordination between federal and state entities without overriding state authority.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to manage federal lands and provide for public welfare; no apparent conflicts with states' rights or other amendments.
- Political: Could appeal to outdoor recreation advocates and rural lawmakers by addressing safety in popular public areas, but may face scrutiny over federal spending priorities in a budget-constrained environment. The bill's referral to both Natural Resources and Agriculture committees highlights bipartisan interest in land management.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-05: 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.
- 2025-06-05: 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.
- 2025-06-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Public Land Search and Rescue Act — issued 2025-06-05 — PDF (4 pages)