[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 104 (Monday, June 19, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3573-S3574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will 
proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination, 
which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Brock Long, of North 
Carolina, to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, there will be 30 
minutes of debate on the nomination, equally divided in the usual form.
  The Senator from North Carolina.
  Mr. BURR. Madam President, I rise in strong support of William B. 
``Brock'' Long as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, and I might add that supposedly, in 12 minutes, we were going 
to vote on his confirmation, and unfortunately because of this 
unbelievable weather throughout the country, we have Members who can't 
make it back in so this will roll until 11 a.m. tomorrow.
  Brock is a fellow North Carolinian, alumnus of Appalachian State 
University, and currently lives with his family in Hickory, NC. I 
believe he is an exceptional nominee to lead FEMA, and he is well 
prepared to lead the Agency as it responds to disasters, regardless of 
where they are in this country.
  When we met in my office a few weeks ago, we discussed the ongoing 
efforts in North Carolina to recover from Hurricane Matthew. Many might 
remember that. That was last year. It affected millions of people from 
Florida to Virginia. The storm caused historic flooding in cities and 
towns across the eastern half of my State. FEMA was in North Carolina 
before the storm, and Agency personnel have been in the State ever 
since that storm happened. As many in this Chamber know, once the 
camera crews leave, there is a perception by the American people the 
disaster is over. The truth is, Brock and I both know that isn't the 
case. Even 8 months after Matthew, there are still over 50 families 
being housed in local hotels utilizing FEMA assistance. It will take 
years for my State to fully recover.
  Even as the recovery from Matthew continues, another hurricane season 
has already begun. If not a hurricane on the east coast, there will be 
fires, tornadoes, and other natural and manmade disasters that FEMA 
will be called to respond to. A key facet in responding to these 
disasters is the cooperation among local and State emergency management 
officials, as well as the Federal stakeholders led by FEMA.
  Brock understands why this cooperation is imperative. He is bringing 
his own deep knowledge and experience of emergency management to FEMA. 
He began his career with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency before 
moving on to FEMA region IV in Atlanta. While at FEMA, Brock was a 
regional hurricane program manager and hurricane and evacuation liaison 
team leader.
  After leaving FEMA, Brock was selected by my good friend Gov. Bob 
Riley of Alabama to serve as the director of Alabama's Emergency 
Management Agency. Brock served in that position from 2007 to 2011, 
where he led the State's efforts to respond to 14 disasters, including 
eight presidentially declared events. Specifically, Brock was charged 
with leading the State's response to the Deepwater Horizon oilspill in 
2009.
  He is a man of immense qualifications and experience. More recently, 
Brock has worked in the private sector, where he provided emergency 
management advice and expertise to his firm's clients. Brock has also 
served as the private sector chairman for the National Emergency 
Management Association. I believe we must take advantage of assets in 
and out of government when preparing for disasters. Leveraging the 
private sector can supplement State emergency management agencies with 
knowledge and expertise that is difficult to build independently when 
State budgets are tight. Brock agrees with this approach and will build 
on these important partnerships at FEMA.
  The combination of his work for FEMA, State emergency management, and 
the private sector makes Brock Long well suited for this nomination by 
the President. Because of his experience, Brock understands it is the 
work done before a storm that saves lives. Helping States and cities 
establish emergency management plans allows funding and assistance to 
flow almost immediately after the storm has passed. If public officials 
are developing plans after the storm, it is already too late.
  In closing, let me say to my colleagues again, reiterate my strong 
support for Brock Long, and urge my colleagues to vote for his 
confirmation--especially now that we have entered the 2017 hurricane 
season. It is my hope the Senate will confirm him tomorrow at 11 a.m. 
with broad bipartisan support, allowing him to quickly begin the work 
of strengthening FEMA and helping the Agency to respond to the 
disasters yet to happen.
  I thank my colleagues.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

[[Page S3574]]

  

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.