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44 CFR § 208.3 - Authority for the National US&R Response System.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t44/s208.3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "44 CFR § 208.3 - Authority for the National US&R Response System."
title_number: 44
title_name: "Emergency Management and Assistance"
section_number: "208.3"
section_name: "Authority for the National US&R Response System."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "DISASTER ASSISTANCE"
part_number: "208"
part_name: "NATIONAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONSE SYSTEM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 through 5206; Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978, 43 FR 41943, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 329; Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 101; E.O. 12127, 44 FR 19367, 3 CFR, 1979 Comp., p. 376; E.O. 12148, 44 FR 43239, 3 CFR, 1979 Comp., p. 412; E.O. 13286, 68 FR 10619, 3 CFR, 2003 Comp., p. 166."
regulatory_source: "70 FR 9194, Feb. 24, 2005, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "208"
---

# 208.3 Authority for the National US&R Response System.

(a) *Enabling legislation.* The Federal Emergency Management Agency established and operated the System under the authority of §§ 303, 306(a), 306(b), 403(a)(3)(B) and 621(c) of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5144, 5149(a), 5149(b), 5170b(a)(3)(B) and 5197(c), respectively. Section 503 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 313, transferred the functions of the Administrator of FEMA to the Secretary of Homeland Security. The President redelegated to the Secretary of Homeland Security in Executive Order 13286 those authorities of the President under the Stafford Act that had been delegated previously to the Administrator of FEMA under Executive Order 12148.

(b) *Implementing plan.* The National Response Plan identifies DHS as the primary Federal agency with responsibility for Emergency Support Function 9, Urban Search and Rescue.