House Passes Congressman Dent’s Bill To Expand CAP Role
in Homeland Security
A bill by U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15, pictured below)) that
requires an assessment of how CAP can support homeland
security missions was approved by the House of Representatives
Tuesday. Congressman Dent is a member of both the Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee and the Homeland Security
Committee.
The bill (H.R. 1178) directs the U.S. Government Accountability
Office (GAO) to study the ways in which the CAP may assist state,
local, and tribal governments and the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) by:
- Providing aerial reconnaissance or communication capabilities
for border security;
- Providing assistance in a collective response effort, including
damage assessment, search and rescue, and evacuations;
- Assisting in departmental training exercises.
GAO’s report to Congress must assess the feasibility and
cost-effectiveness of utilizing CAP assets and the ability of
federal and state agencies to request CAP support. Upon completion,
DHS must review and analyze the report and, within 90 days, submit
recommendations to the Congress for further action.
Congressman Dent has long advocated the use of CAP pilots and
aircraft for homeland security missions. He conceived this
legislation in 2007 after a visit to the border town of Laredo,
Texas, to address concerns raised to him by officers of Customs and
Border Protection, who said they lacked sufficient aviation assets
and resources for their important mission.
“Continuing a proud tradition, a CAP force of 57,000
volunteers and over 500 aircraft across the country stand ready to
support the Nation’s homeland security mission,”
Congressman Dent said. “I believe this study will find that
using CAP resources to bolster our border security and assist in
disaster response is a sensible and cost-effective
measure.”
The Civil Air Patrol is a congressionally chartered, federally
supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official
auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). First organized at
the beginning of World War II, the CAP is a volunteer cadre that
handles 90 percent of inland search and rescue missions in the
United States. Civil Air Patrol planes have been among the first to
survey the aftermath of such disasters as the attacks of September
11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina.
“The passage of Congressman Dent's Civil Air Patrol
Homeland Security bill in the House today marks a major step
forward in ensuring that Civil Air Patrol's emergency capabilities
are fully utilized by all Federal agencies,” said Maj. Gen,
Amy Courter, CAP National Commander. “With 550 aircraft,
thousands of trained and experienced aircrew, and a nationwide
communications system CAP can be a valuable component of our
national defense.”