I commend the Senate for quickly confirming R. David Paulison as Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management. Dave's considerable experience and profound dedication will be invaluable as we continue to equip FEMA with tools the agency deserves in the 21st century. Chief Paulison is fully committed to strengthening FEMA's response and recovery capabilities and building an integrated emergency management structure.
Dave is a distinguished, highly-respected emergency manager with decades of experience at various levels of government. He began his career as a community firefighter and has more than 30 years of fire and rescue experience. He served as chief of the Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Department and led their efforts during Hurricane Andrew. Chief Paulison was appointed U.S. Fire Administrator in 2001 and guided the Fire Administration through its integration into the department in 2003.
Last September, Chief Paulison took charge of FEMA and has led with tremendous skill and vision during the most challenging time in the agency's history. Dave's commitment to the employees at FEMA is unmatched. He successfully coordinated the federal response to Hurricanes Rita and Wilma, strengthened cooperation with the Department of Defense, improved the communication capabilities for emergency response teams, and managed more than two dozen disaster declarations.
I congratulate Chief Paulison on his confirmation, and I am confident the American public will be well-served during his tenure.