WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) led a bipartisan letter alongside Representative Troy Carter Sr. (D-LA) and 6 additional colleagues in seeking sustained federal funding for the Search and Rescue Common Operating Platform (SARCOP).

The bipartisan letter calls upon Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) of the House Appropriations Committee to ensure that federal funds are properly allocated to SARCOP, so critical hurricane relief technology continues to operate uninterrupted in Southwest Florida and across America.

Representatives Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Troy Carter Sr. (D-LA) were joined in support by Representatives Nancy Mace (R-SC), Jenniffer González-Colón (R- PR), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY), Randy Weber (R- TX), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY).

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Read the full text of the letter HERE or below:

The Honorable Tom Cole Chairman
House Appropriations Committee H-307 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Ranking Member
House Appropriations Committee
1036 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro:

We write to respectfully request that you provide robust funding for the Search and Rescue Common Operating Platform (SARCOP), to be administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

SARCOP is an existing, critical, GIS-based tool that our nation’s emergency responders, disaster planners, firefighters, police officers, and Search and Rescue (SAR) teams rely on to respond to emergencies, such as hurricanes, floods, tornados, wildfire, landslides, and other emergent events. SARCOP meaningfully benefits communities across the country, evidenced by its rapid growth in utilization that has doubled year over year since 2021. Accordingly, sustaining this invaluable platform has become increasingly challenging without long-term federal funding.

State governments, SAR Task Forces, local governments, and individual fire departments across the country have endorsed SARCOP because it has a proven track record of assisting in coordinating first responders in the immediate aftermath of emergencies, identifying hazardous spills, and providing preliminary damage assessments that expedite the ability of local communities to work with FEMA in getting financial relief disbursed. Its ability to collect damage data also is an effective tool in helping states and communities to justify federal disaster declarations.

Therefore, we are seeking sustained federal funding for SARCOP through the USFA. Our proposed language for the FY25 Appropriations Homeland Security Report would direct funding to the sustained use of innovative GIS technologies in disaster response efforts.

Your support in securing funding for SARCOP would greatly contribute to our nation’s safety and resiliency, ensuring SAR Teams and first responders maintain the necessary tools to effectively save lives and property. We are committed to working with colleagues across both sides of the aisle to support this cause.

Sincerely,

Byron Donalds (R-FL) Member of Congress
Troy Carter Sr. (D-LA) Member of Congress
Nancy Mace (R-SC) Member of Congress
Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) Member of Congress
Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA) Member of Congress
Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY) Member of Congress
Randy Weber (R-TX) Member of Congress
Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) Member of Congress