[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5272-S5273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CRAIG FUGATE NOMINATION

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, a couple of weeks ago, Senator 
Martinez and I had the privilege of introducing Craig Fugate, President 
Obama's nominee for the head of FEMA, before the Senate Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The committee promptly 
reported him right out. It is because he is so uniquely qualified.
  Craig has served as the director of emergency management in our State 
since 2001, and he has overseen the response to 11 Presidentially 
declared disasters in our State. He is one of the most respected 
leaders in emergency management in the country, and he is the one--if 
you want a pro's pro--with the experience and the expertise FEMA needs 
at this time. Why? Look at how he came up: a former firefighter, a 
paramedic, a fire rescue lieutenant, an emergency manager. All of that 
was at the local government level, Alachua County, which is 
Gainesville, FL.
  He spent 15 years working in local emergency management before he 
went up to the Emergency Operations Center at the State level. Since he 
has become the director of emergency management, he has handled the 
responses to the landfall of five major hurricanes in Florida, and that 
was within a 2-year time period.
  I will never forget when Hurricane Charley came barreling up the 
southwest Florida coast headed straight for Tampa Bay. Suddenly, at the 
last minute, it took a right-hand turn and it went right up Charlotte 
Bay. Ground zero was Punta Gorda, FL.
  By the way, people had evacuated Tampa and then come down to the 
hotels, especially the Holiday Inn Punta Gorda, and here they are right 
in the middle of the storm.
  That storm was so intense that it blew the roof off of the Charlotte 
County Emergency Operation Center. They had to evacuate the CCEOC in 
the middle of the storm. I got there later that day, after the storm 
hit that morning, and I will never forget seeing Craig in the mobile 
emergency operation center that the State of Florida brought in as he 
was taking over and directing operations in the midst of that chaos. 
Our Florida emergency management response to disasters--with a sense of 
urgency and efficiency--has emerged as a role model for disaster 
preparation and disaster response. That, in large part, has been as a 
result of the leadership of Craig Fugate.
  It is also very interesting, when you respond to these kinds of 
national disasters, that you have cooperation between the civilian 
emergency response and the National Guard. Of course, the Florida 
National Guard is the best in the business because they know how to 
take care of business when it comes to emergency response to 
hurricanes.
  Under Craig's leadership, Florida has become the first State to 
receive full accreditation for its emergency management program. Craig 
not only has creativity but a sense of humor. He judges things after a 
hurricane by the ``Waffle House'' test. He says if the Waffle House is 
open after the hurricane, that means there is power and water in there. 
If the Waffle House is closed, things are pretty bad, and a lot of 
things have been shut down. If the Waffle House is open and they have a 
limited menu, then it generally means the power has been out for quite 
a while because everything in their freezer has melted and has spoiled.
  I think Craig's exemplary service speaks for itself.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a number of documents be 
printed in the Record, including a letter from Governor Crist, and a 
letter from a host of organizations, all the way from the Public Works 
Association, the American Red Cross--I will not list them all, but it 
goes through the National Wildlife Federation and the Reinsurance 
Association of America. Another one is by the Council of State 
Governments. Everybody is singing Craig Fugate's praises.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                   April 17, 2009.
     Hon. Bill Nelson,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mel Martinez,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Nelson and Martinez: I would like to extend 
     my most sincere appreciation to you for introducing Florida 
     Division of Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate at his 
     United States Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, April 
     22. Craig's nomination to be the Director of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency instills a great sense of pride 
     in all Floridians. Although his confirmation would mean that 
     we are losing a great asset to our state, Craig's renowned 
     expertise in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and 
     mitigation activities will, without a doubt, benefit our 
     entire nation.
       As you well know, Craig has consistently proven to be among 
     the most respected leaders in emergency management through 
     his outstanding work and vast experience. As the Director of 
     the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Craig has dealt 
     with every type of natural disaster ranging from wildfires to 
     hurricanes, and he has managed them all effectively through 
     his total commitment to ensuring the safety of Florida's 
     citizens.
       For Craig, success is not about personal glory. Instead, it 
     is about building a great team that takes action to prepare 
     for, and respond to, disasters and their impacts. I know we 
     share the belief that Craig would utilize this same 
     leadership philosophy as FEMA director.
       In advance, thank you for helping to shepherd the 
     nomination of Craig Fugate through the United States Senate. 
     It is exciting to see the hard work and expertise of

[[Page S5273]]

     a great Floridian like Craig recognized at the national 
     level. I am confident he will continue to make all of Florida 
     proud of his leadership.
       Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything 
     else I can do to help expedite the process of confirming 
     Florida's Craig Fugate to this important post. He is the 
     right person at the right time.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Charlie Crist,
     Florida Governor.
                                  ____

                                                      May 5, 2009.
     Hon. Harry Reid,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell:
       The undersigned organizations are members of the Stafford 
     Act Coalition and are writing to ask for swift confirmation 
     of William Craig Fugate as the Administrator of the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The undersigned 
     organizations and associations represent state and local 
     officials, the nation's realtors, surveyors, conservation 
     interests, and others with a stake in flood management and 
     response, disaster mitigation and emergency response and 
     recovery. The Stafford Act Coalition supports hazard 
     mitigation programs and maintaining the intent of the Robert 
     T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
       It is critical that FEMA leadership be put in place swiftly 
     and not delayed. Currently, our nation is addressing the H1N1 
     flu and the response and recovery for multiple other 
     disasters involving flooding, severe storms, tornadoes and 
     wildfires. We encourage the Senate to confirm Mr. Craig 
     Fugate as FEMA Administrator as swiftly as possible.
       Thank you for your support of emergency management issues. 
     If you or your staff has any questions, please contact 
     Kristin Robinson in NEMA's Washington, D.C. Office at (202) 
     624-5459 or [email protected].
       Sincerely,
         Peter King, American Public Works Association; Larry 
           Decker, American Red Cross; Larry Larson, Association 
           of State Flood Plain Managers; Chris Whatley, Council 
           of State Governments; Martha Braddock, International 
           Association of Emergency Managers; Dalen Harris, 
           National Association of Counties; Amy Linehan, National 
           Association of Development Agencies; Susan Gilson, 
           National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management 
           Agencies; Kristin Robinson, National Emergency 
           Management Association; Laura Schepis, National Rural 
           Electric Cooperative Association; David Conrad, 
           National Wildlife Federation; Franklin Nutter, 
           Reinsurance Association of America.
                                  ____

                                     National Emergency Management


                                                  Association,

                                   Washington, DC, April 29, 2009.
     Hon. Harry Reid,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell: As 
     the President of the National Emergency Management 
     Association (NEMA), I am writing on behalf of the emergency 
     management directors from the states, the U.S. territories, 
     and the District of Columbia. We ask for the Senate's 
     immediate action to confirm William Craig Fugate of Florida 
     as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency (FEMA). It is critical that FEMA leadership be put in 
     place swiftly and not delayed.
       Currently, our nation is addressing the H1 N1 flu, 
     preparing for the upcoming hurricane season, and continuing 
     the response and recovery for multiple other disasters 
     involving flooding, severe storms, tornadoes and wildfires. 
     Mr. Fugate has been a leader in the emergency management 
     community and in NEMA for years and he is widely respected by 
     his peers across the nation. NEMA respectfully encourages the 
     Committee to confirm Mr. Craig Fugate as FEMA Administrator 
     as swiftly as possible.
       Thank you for your support of emergency management. If you 
     or your staff has any questions, please contact Kristin 
     Robinson in NEMA's Washington, D.C. Office at (202) 624-5459 
     or [email protected].
           Sincerely,

                                                Nancy Dragani,

                                    NEMA President and Director of
                             the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, it is my hope the hold that is 
on Craig for an issue unrelated to Craig--related to the question of 
FEMA putting a flood zone declaration on some areas of New Orleans--it 
is my hope that we can resolve that and get on. After all, this is now 
1 week into the month of May. Remember, hurricane season officially 
starts June 1.
  We need to have Craig Fugate in place so that FEMA is ready to go at 
this particular time, when there is another challenge facing the gulf 
coast and the Atlantic coast, and potentially the Pacific coast. I hope 
the Senate is going to act quickly on his confirmation.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Shaheen). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask consent to speak as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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