[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 86 (Monday, May 22, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTER FOR DOMESTIC 
                              PREPAREDNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 2023

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
25th Anniversary of the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), which 
will be celebrated on June 7th.
  On June 1, 1998, the Center opened its doors to America's first 
responders in Calhoun County, Alabama. During the past 25 years, the 
staff of the CDP have provided essential all hazards training to first 
responders from all 50 states, every U.S. territory, and numerous 
tribal nations, enabling them to plan for, respond to and recover from 
natural and man-made disasters.
  Its multifaceted campus includes the Nation's only toxic agent 
training facility for civilian responders to gain the competence and 
confidence to respond to real world events involving chemical, 
biological, explosive, radiological, and other hazardous materials. It 
also includes the only hospital facility in the Nation dedicated solely 
to training healthcare professionals in disaster preparedness and 
response. In addition, it has served as a Joint Field Office for 
tornado response efforts in the state of Alabama and a personnel 
mobilization center for responders being forward deployed to 
presidentially declared disasters across the Nation.
  Today, the CDP is under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland 
Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and further helps ensure 
a safe and resilient Nation by serving as the primary location for the 
training of FEMA's incident workforce.
  I am pleased to recognize the staff of the Center for Domestic 
Preparedness for reaching this important milestone and look forward to 
witnessing its continued service to the Nation. I am especially pleased 
to recognize Superintendent Tony Russell for his years of service to 
the CDP.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the CDP on this exciting 
milestone in its history.

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