Good Samaritan search bill advances in Senate
WASHINGTON — A bill that would allow recovery teams easier access to federal land to search for victims of crimes and accidents cleared a key Senate committee on Thursday.
The Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources approved the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act paving the way for it to come to the Senate floor for final action. The House passed the bill in April by a vote of 413-0.
Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., and Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., have pushed for the bill from the frustrations of families who were confronted by red tape trying to gain access to the 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.
Similar legislation cleared the House last year but died in the Senate without action.
Heck and Heller issued a press statement Thursday applauding the Senate committee approval.
"Democrats and Republicans from both chambers agree no more families should have to experience what the Goldberg and Tucker families had to endure. The time has passed for this legislation to make its way to the President's desk, and I will continue to work with Congressman Heck to make that happen," Heller said.
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 bill would force change across the park system and on other federal lands.
Contact Peter Urban at purban@reviewjournal.com or at 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @PUrbanDC
