On the recordDecember 30, 2012
I also rise in support of S.J. Res. 44, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. This resolution provides the consent of Congress for a Memorandum of Understanding reached among a number U.S. states and Canadian provinces to provide for mutual assistance in managing an emergency or disaster. This MOU, which includes states in the upper Midwest and the provinces of central Canada, is very similar to existing cross-border agreements in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. These agreements provide for the sharing of personnel, equipment and other resources in an emergency or disaster, whether natural or man- made. In the past, they have provided a framework for U.S. crews to help their Canadian counterparts clear roads after blizzards and to deploy search and rescue teams. Mr. Speaker, as all of us know, disasters do not respect political boundaries, and it is in our interest to allow our states to coordinate emergency preparedness efforts with our close friends and allies to the north. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
