Tester fights to reduce red tape for search-and-recovery missions

Senator’s bipartisan bill expedites federal land permits for search-and-recovery teams

(U.S. SENATE) – When folks go missing in national parks, forests or other federal lands, Senator Jon Tester wants search-and-recovery teams to be able to deploy as quickly as possible.

Tester is backing a bipartisan bill to expedite the permitting process that gives qualified search-and-recovery teams faster access to federal public lands. Currently, it can take up to a year for search teams to get the proper permits required to conduct missions on federal public lands.

“Accidents happen, and families shouldn’t have to wait over a year to find out what happened to their loved ones,” Tester said. “This common-sense bill will remove red tape so search parties can locate folks missing on federal lands as quickly as possible.”

Tester’s bill also allows search-and-recovery teams to waive liability insurance coverage, a U.S. Forest Service requirement that can also delay missions.

Tester’s bipartisan Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act is co-sponsored by Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

Tester’s bipartisan Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act by les_braswell5524