[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 82 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5645-S5646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



            Statement on the Nomination of Michael Armstrong

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I would like to make a few remarks about 
the nomination of Michael Armstrong to be Associate Director of 
Mitigation for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The President 
nominated Mr. Armstrong for this position on April 28. Last Thursday, 
June 9, the Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously 
reported out Mr. Armstrong's nomination.
  During Mr. Armstrong's confirmation hearing, Senators Campbell, 
Allard, Conrad, and Dorgan, as well as Representatives Skaggs and 
Pomeroy, spoke in support of his nomination. In addition, Senator 
Daschle, Governor Romer of Colorado, Governor Racicot of Montana, 
Governor Janklow of South Dakota, and the Association of State 
Floodplain Managers have written letters of recommendation on Mr. 
Armstrong's behalf.
  I am pleased to report that Michael Armstrong has an impressive 
background that suits him well to the position before him. For the past 
3\1/2\ years, he has served as the Director of FEMA Region 8, which 
includes the States of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Utah, and Wyoming.
  Mr. Armstrong has done an excellent job as Region 8 director. He has 
assumed tremendous leadership during major disasters, such as the 
recent floods in North Dakota. Moreover, Mr.

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Armstrong has done a great deal to encourage public outreach and 
coordination between Federal, State, and local response resources.
  FEMA is the central agency within the Federal Government responsible 
for emergency planning, preparedness, mitigation, response, and 
recovery. The position for which Mr. Armstrong has been nominated, 
Associate Director of Mitigation, carries out FEMA's policies and 
programs to eliminate or reduce risks to life and property from natural 
hazards such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
  Federal emergency management has always focused primarily on how to 
respond to a disaster, after it strikes. We in Congress are no 
different; almost every year, we pass supplemental emergency 
appropriations legislation to pay for the additional, unanticipated 
costs of timely disasters.
  FEMA is beginning to place greater emphasis on the mitigation or 
prevention of long-term risks before the disaster strikes. The purpose 
of this shift in focus is hopefully to reduce liabilities and 
ultimately to reduce the cost of disaster response. This appears to be 
a smart move, and we are all eager to see FEMA succeed in carrying out 
this initiative.
  If confirmed, Mr. Armstrong will lead FEMA's efforts in mitigating 
the risks of natural disasters. This task is not an easy one, but I am 
confident in Mr. Armstrong's ability to face the challenge ahead.