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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Mike Sturla Chairman, Majority Policy Committee |
State Rep. John Siptroth D-Monroe/Pike Hearing Co-Chairman |
Majority Policy Committee explores search and rescue operations
HARRISBURG, July 26 – The House Majority Policy Committee held a public hearing today at the state Capitol to study search and rescue operations in the Commonwealth, according to Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.
State Rep. John Siptroth, D-Monroe/Pike, requested the hearing and served as its co-chairman.
"Without well-trained and well-equipped search and rescue personnel, tragedy can strike," Sturla said. "Today the Policy Committee investigated the state and local roles in managing search and rescue operations and I thank Representative Siptroth for bringing this issue to light."
Siptroth added, "Pocono Search and Rescue and Northeast Search and Rescue exemplify what local search and rescue teams across the Commonwealth provide and the challenges they face. I was happy to meet with groups personally in Monroe County and then bring these groups to Harrisburg to trigger a dialogue between stakeholders, which I hope will in turn positively impact the safety of the residents of Pennsylvania."
Those testifying at the hearing included a panel of search and rescue professionals: Christopher Rudolph, chief, Pocono Search and Rescue; Bruce Barton, chief, Northeast Search and Rescue; and John Miller, president, Pennsylvania Search and Rescue; Kenneth Hess, director of Bureau of Supplies and Surplus Operations, Pennsylvania Department of General Services; Richard Flinn Jr., deputy director for operations, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency; and Kurt Myers, deputy secretary for safety administration, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
For more information about the Policy Committee and hearing materials, go to www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee.