[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 7 (Monday, January 13, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S156-S157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Peter Gaynor

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today asking the Senate to confirm 
the nomination of Mr. Peter Gaynor to be the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA Administrator serves as 
the principal adviser to the President, the Homeland Security Council, 
and the Secretary of Homeland Security for all matters related to 
emergency management.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page S156, January 13, 2020, third column, the following 
appears: Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER 
(Mr. Boozman). Without objection, it is so ordered. NOMINATION OF 
PETER GAYNOR Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I rise today asking the 
Senate to confirm the . . .
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. 
President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Boozman). Without 
objection, it is so ordered. NOMINATION OF PETER GAYNOR Mr. 
JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today asking the Senate to confirm 
the . . .


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  The Administrator's principal duties include the operation of the 
National Response Coordination Center and the effective support of all 
emergency support functions. More broadly, the Administrator 
coordinates the implementation of a risk-based, all-hazards strategy to 
prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from natural 
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters.
  The Agency has over 20,000 employees and a surge capacity force of 
over 9,000 volunteers to respond during local and national emergencies, 
working around the clock when necessary.
  The President's nominee to head FEMA, Mr. Peter Gaynor, has extensive 
experience at the local, State, and Federal emergency management 
levels. In 2018, the Senate confirmed Mr. Gaynor as the Deputy 
Administrator of FEMA, and for most of last year he served as the 
Acting Administrator.

[[Page S157]]

Prior to Federal service, he was the director of Rhode Island's 
Emergency Management Agency. For 26 years prior to his service in 
emergency management positions, Mr. Gaynor served as an enlisted marine 
and infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.
  Mr. Gaynor's experience will be valuable as FEMA works to implement 
the Disaster Recovery Reform Act. A primary goal of that legislation is 
to help ensure that the model for response to and recovery from natural 
and manmade disasters is one that is locally executed, State managed, 
and federally supported.
  I am pleased to say that Mr. Gaynor's nomination has broad bipartisan 
support. Our committee approved his nomination by voice vote in 
November. Among others, he has received endorsements from Rhode Island 
Governor Gina Raimondo, Senator Jack Reed, Big City Emergency Managers, 
and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
  I am grateful to Mr. Gaynor for his willingness to continue serving 
his country in this role and to his family for their continued 
sacrifice. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote yes on his 
nomination.
  I yield the floor.