House-approved ‘good Samaritan’ bill would let rescue teams do their jobs
WASHINGTON – A bill that would allow recovery teams easier access to federal land to search for victims of crimes and accidents advanced in Congress on Wednesday.
The House Natural Resources Committee approved the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act by voice vote and sent it to the House floor. A similar bill passed the House last year but died in the Senate without action.
The bill by Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., would direct the secretary of Interior to expedite federal land access for qualified search groups. It would remove a requirement that groups obtain liability insurance and direct land managers to approve or deny permits for access within 48 hours.
The Heck bill, and a companion by Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., stemmed from the frustrations of families who were confronted by red tape trying to gain access to Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
The Goldberg family partnered with Red Rock Search and Rescue to look for the remains of Keith Goldberg, a Las Vegas cabdriver who was slain in January 2012. But it took more than nine months to raise money to obtain the necessary $1 million in liability insurance required for a permit. When searchers finally entered the park on April 14, 2013, Goldberg’s remains were recovered in less than two hours.
Likewise, divers with Earth Resource Group were unable for 10 months to gain permission to search the lake for Air Force Staff Sgt. Antonio Tucker, who was presumed drowned. Volunteers found Tucker’s body on April 16, 2013, after less than two days of searching.
As Congress has weighed the issue, the National Park Service has completed a memorandum of understanding that would allow Red Rock Search and Rescue expedited access to Lake Mead. The Heck bill would force change across the park system and on other federal lands.
Contact Review-Journal Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@reviewjournal.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @STetreaultDC
