[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 132 (Friday, September 7, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1823]]


   CONGRATULATING BRUCE BAUGHMAN FOR HIS SERVICE AS DIRECTOR OF THE 
                  ALABAMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 7, 2007

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and personal 
pleasure that I rise today to honor Bruce Baughman for his years of 
leadership and service to the state of Alabama as director of the 
Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA).
  Bruce's tenure has endured devastating natural disasters across 
Alabama, including Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina as well as a deadly 
tornado that killed 10 people at Enterprise High School. In each of 
these circumstances, Bruce's experience and guidance proved crucial to 
the entire region. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the recovery in 
south Alabama was much better than expected, and as a result of Bruce's 
steady hand, AEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 received 
national praise.
  His list of accomplishments is long enough to fill an entire volume 
of the Congressional Record. Among the highlights, Bruce was the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) director of operations for 
response efforts at both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the 
wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Bruce also served as 
director of FEMA's Office of National Preparedness, a department 
created at the request of the president and charged with planning and 
coordinating the agency's domestic terrorism preparedness.
  Bruce has served as director of FEMA's Planning and Readiness 
Division, coordinating the development and implementation of FEMA 
policies and procedures for use during presidentially declared 
emergencies. Prior to joining FEMA, Bruce served on the Mississippi EMA 
staff. Bruce is also a veteran, having served his country as an 
artillery officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, seeing service in Asia, 
Europe, and the Caribbean.
  Bruce's lifetime of service has certainly not gone unnoticed. He has 
received numerous awards including FEMA's Distinguished Service Award 
and four FEMA Meritorious Service Awards.
  Madam Speaker, the faithful service of outstanding Americans like 
Bruce Baughman has contributed in an immeasurable way to the wellbeing 
of our state and our Nation. I would like to offer my congratulations 
to Bruce for his many personal and professional achievements and offer 
a heartfelt ``thank you'' for a job well done.
  I know his family and many friends join with me in honoring his 
accomplishments and extending thanks for his many efforts on behalf of 
the people of Alabama and our great Nation.

                          ____________________