Recognizing Out-Of-State Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the bravery and selfless service of the individuals who responded to the building collapse in Surfside, FL, on June 24, 2021.

I want to thank the out-of-State Urban Search and Rescue--USAR--teams from Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and emergency specialists from California for responding when the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, FL, suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night. They swiftly heeded the call of duty to provide search, rescue, and recovery efforts following the collapse. In the face of tremendous tragedy, they ran into danger. They are heroes.

More than 440 USAR members from New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Indiana were on the ground in Surfside to help supplement the search and rescue efforts. Florida is grateful for the outpouring of support from our fellow Americans. We are grateful for the task force teams that came from all over the country, traveling thousands of miles to work alongside local, State, Federal, and international counterparts in the relentless search for survivors. Their presence and efforts brought great comfort to the community and helped provide closure to the families of the victims.

Rescue crews worked tirelessly following the collapse, even when smoke and heat from a fire inside the building's standing portion hampered their efforts. They persisted when the temperatures escalated so much that some needed IVs to replenish fluids. They continued on when Tropical Storm Elsa passed nearby and dumped torrential rain. They left the pile only when they absolutely had to. They left their families back home and put it all on the line for the Surfside community. They braved conditions that the likes of us couldn't ever imagine.

I also want to thank the search and rescue dogs for their hard work to support search, rescue and recovery efforts. We cannot thank these brave men, women, and canine units enough. They are heroes who stepped up to serve the community in the wake of unprecedented and unimaginable disaster. Not only did they help lead the search, rescue, and recovery operation, they provided endless care and compassion to the families of Surfside and did everything they could to bring closure to those who lost loved ones.

We are incredibly grateful to these heroes and their families for their bravery, self-sacrifice, and determination in the face of this terrible tragedy. Ann and I are praying for the Surfside community, our Jewish community, the families and loved ones of the lost, and all of those who worked tirelessly to serve the Surfside community.

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