[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 24 (Friday, February 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1788-S1789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page S1788]]



                  FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today, as I have in months gone by, 
to talk about some of the good things that are happening in Government. 
We tend to dwell--because of the negative perception that the press 
throws on almost everything that is done here in Washington--on things 
that the Government is involved in that are not good. There are things 
we do that are good, however, and I want to talk about some of those 
things. I want to do this, Mr. President, in an effort to stem the tide 
of negativity that has engulfed the perception many Americans have 
about their Government. Strident skepticism about our Government seems 
to rule the day. I worry about the harm it will do to our country in 
the long term.
  A recent survey of 1,000 registered voters found that about 63 
percent of them did not want their children to be President. This is in 
stark contrast to what it was 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago. 
If this is the case, where will we find the leaders for future 
generations?
  There are, in fact, as I have already indicated, many Government 
efforts and agencies that serve this country well. Last summer I spoke 
on this floor about the National Park Service, which began in the early 
part of this century as an idea of President Theodore Roosevelt. The 
National Park Service has worked to preserve and protect the remarkable 
lands that we call our national parks.
  Since Congress established the National Park Service, this agency has 
cared for these natural wonders. Today, about 80 years after the 
National Park Service was formed, 270 million people will visit our 
National Park System.
  I am very proud that the most heavily visited entity in our entire 
National Park System is in Nevada. The Lake Mead recreational area has 
over 10 million visitors every year. Because of the hard work of the 
Park Service, these national treasures will be available for all 
Americans to enjoy for generations to come.
  Another worthwhile Federal agency about which I have spoken is the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission. This is a very small agency, but 
very effective agency, and it has jurisdiction over more than 15,000 
different products. It maintains a constant vigil to seek out and 
eliminate harm to the American consumer. For example, after a baby's 
death resulting from a faulty playpen right here in the District of 
Columbia, the Consumer Product Safety Commission responded quickly by 
removing these playpens from stores and issued a nationwide alert to 
all consumers.
  The Consumer Product Safety Commission most recently made news by 
recalling popular fleece clothing because it was found to be 
dangerously flammable. At one time, we had a similar problem with 
children's pajamas catching on fire. Because of the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission, we now have flame-retardant pajamas for our 
children.
  From investigating reports about unsafe products to protecting our 
children from lead poisoning on playgrounds, the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission has proven, in my opinion, to be an indispensable and 
beneficial Government agency.
  Every summer wildfires sweep the Western part of the United States. 
About 25,000 brave men and women fight those fires. These self-
sacrificing and hard-working firefighters are coordinated through the 
National Interagency Fire Center, which is a joint project of the 
Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. These people put 
their lives on the line. Hundreds of these men and women parachute out 
of the back of airplanes with backpacks weighing almost 100 pounds. We 
have hundreds more who propel off helicopters into harm's way in order 
to save life, property, and our great natural resources.
  We should be proud of this work done by the Federal Government. When 
wild fires race across our forests and fields, and the flames threaten 
our communities, these brave firefighters risk their lives to keep us 
safe.
  Today, I want to take the time to recognize the good work of another 
Government Agency that takes care of us when we suffer calamities. That 
is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. Mr. President, 
when I was in the other body, one of the committees I served on had 
jurisdiction over authorizing what FEMA did. In those days, more than a 
decade ago, FEMA got a lot of bad publicity. They have made remarkable 
improvements. This organization is one of the best examples of how 
Government truly works for Americans.
  In late December and early January, northern Nevada experienced the 
worst floods in the history of our State. We do not have many rivers in 
Nevada, but three tiny rivers in northern Nevada--the Truckee, Carson, 
and Walker Rivers-- became raging torrents, washing away people, 
animals, and property. While most of America was enjoying the New 
Year's holiday, we in Nevada were besieged by the ``Flood of 1997,'' as 
were a number of other Western States. When northern Nevadans were 
confronted with this devastating damage, the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency quickly responded to the short-term and long-term 
needs of residents and businesses. With FEMA's help, Nevada is not only 
rebuilding, but we are well on the road to recovery.
  FEMA has been tremendous. They called on their reserves and utilized 
their experts to assist with our devastating farm losses. They were 
even able to bring in people that could deal with the losses we had to 
tourism.
  FEMA is an agency that is used to handling water damage. About 80 
percent of the emergencies they deal with in the United States deal 
with water damage and floods. They are truly experts at this.
  FEMA was established as an independent agency in 1979 when 
its original purpose was to deal with nuclear attack. That is no longer 
the case. While the Agency once operated within a narrow mandate, it 
has since been expanded to handle disasters generally.

  Mr. President, this is an agency that recognizes that people who are 
hit by floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other national disasters 
are Republicans, Democrats, and independents. This is an agency that 
must act on a bipartisan basis. And I think they have done a good job 
of doing that.
  Due to the present Director, James Lee Witt, who visited Nevada 
during the flood disaster, FEMA has become an example of good 
government. For example, in an effort to streamline and reduce costs, 
FEMA has closed a number of field offices and has drafted a plan to 
reduce its internal regulations, which we all dislike, by more than 50 
percent. It has become a cost-effective agency which has developed an 
innovative, customer-oriented approach to government. Most notably, 
from the very first sign of disaster, FEMA works in partnership with 
State and local governments, as well as businesses and private 
agencies. I can testify to this, as it is precisely what happened in 
Nevada. FEMA does not act like some type of monolithic big brother 
trying to supersede all local efforts. Everything they do is in 
partnership with local government. They also deal with business 
concerns. When the New Year's flood struck, FEMA was on the ground 
within hours to begin the coordination of relief efforts in Nevada. In 
conjunction with local officials, FEMA conducted preliminary damage 
assessments. They did not do it on their own. They did it with local 
officials. Based on FEMA's initial findings, the President declared 6 
of our 17 counties disaster areas, and one major city in Nevada as a 
disaster area. After the declaration, FEMA began some more good work 
coordinating numerous assistance efforts in the State.
  In a disaster, FEMA becomes the central point of contact for a wide 
range of emergency responses, including planning, mitigation, and 
recovery. Aid offered by the Agency ranges from low-interest loans, 
even cash grants, to advice on how to mitigate damage from future 
disasters.
  FEMA's basic disaster recovery assistance falls into three main 
categories. No. 1 is human services, or individual assistance, which 
provides aid to individuals, family, and business owners. No. 2 is 
infrastructure and public assistance, which helps State and local 
governments pay for emergency services and repair damages to facilities 
such as roads, bridges, buildings, and utilities.
  During the flood, when it was still raging, I went into an area 
outside of

[[Page S1789]]

our capital, Carson City, to meet with county commissioners. One of the 
big problems we had with the Carson River, which is a wild river with 
no dams, was with a levy that had been washed away. This levy had been 
there for as long as anyone could remember, but no one claimed 
ownership of it. It did not belong to the county. It did not belong to 
the State. The farmers did not claim it, and neither did the Indians. 
It was essential, however, that levy be reconstructed. So the county 
said, ``We will take responsibility.'' As soon as they did that, FEMA 
was there to begin work on how to reconstruct the levy, which is so 
essential to prevent damage from Nevada's spring thaws.
  The third disaster assistance category is hazard mitigation 
assistance, which provides funding for reducing future losses in 
disaster areas. We have an area along the Truckee River where FEMA is 
considering buying all of the land. It is likely that this area will 
suffer another flood, so why should we continue to put those residents 
in harms way? The homes should not have been built there, and FEMA's 
efforts to buy this land is a fundamental part of hazard mitigation 
assistance.
  Additionally, one of the first things FEMA does in an afflicted 
community is activate what they call the National Teleregistration 
Center. This sounds like a fancy name, but it is basically a telephone 
bank which begins taking applications for assistance within hours of 
the President's declaration. In Nevada, we have had over 3,000 people 
register for assistance by using this telephone number. Moreover, as of 
just a few days ago, FEMA had issued millions of dollars in housing 
checks to Nevadans; approved nearly a half a million dollars in 
individual and family grants in Nevada; obligated almost $5 million in 
public assistance grants to repair and restore Nevada public 
facilities; and issued $15,000 in disaster unemployment assistance to 
Nevada residents left jobless.

  One reason FEMA works so well in a partnership with local governments 
is because, when there is a disaster, they do not come in and say we 
are going to take care of everything. The reason cooperation is coming 
from State and local governments is because they are required to come 
up with 25 percent of the costs of these repairs.
  Amidst all the chaos of this devastating flood, FEMA was a source of 
hope, assistance, and relief. In time of disaster, when communities are 
reeling from devastation caused by nature or humans, it is vital than 
an emergency management infrastructure is ready to respond immediately. 
FEMA works in cooperation with States and nonprofits to pick up where 
their efforts left off. This efficient Federal Agency also works to 
cover what residents' insurance does not.
  Since the potential for flooding in some areas is still extreme, 
FEMA's efforts in hazard mitigation planning are invaluable. I have 
already talked about an example of that. The Carson and Walker Rivers 
are threatening to flood again, and the problem will not be gone until 
the snow has melted. The flood of 1997 washed away levees, choked river 
channels, and saturated soils. These conditions make the area ripe for 
more flooding. FEMA will be there to help if this untoward situation 
takes place. Because of strong leadership and a willingness to make 
necessary reforms, FEMA has become an indispensable Government agency 
for millions of Americans who have suffered these terrible losses. In a 
1994 survey, over 80 percent of natural disaster victims approved of 
the way FEMA did its work. This is clearly, Mr. President, government 
working for us. The Director, James Lee Witt, should be very proud of 
this Agency. I know I am.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Enzi). The Chair recognizes the Senator 
from New Jersey.
  Mr. TORRICELLI. I ask unanimous consent to address the Senate for 10 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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