This is a call for action requesting each IAFC member to immediately contact his/her two Senators in support of Chief R. David Paulison’s nomination to be the Department of Homeland Security’s Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management. A sample letter to send to your Senators is below.
Background
On April 6, 2006, President Bush nominated Chief R. David Paulison to be the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management at the Department of Homeland Security. In this role, Chief Paulison would lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Chief Paulison was the president of the IAFC from 1996 through 1997. He was the chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department in Florida, and served as the incident commander during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in 1996.
In 2001, Chief Paulison became the U.S. Fire Administrator and served as the director of the Preparedness Division of the Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate of FEMA from 2003 to 2004. He was appointed the acting FEMA Director in September 2005.
Recent Congressional Action
Chief Paulison’s nomination has been referred to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The committee will hold a hearing on Chief Paulison’s nomination this spring and then the full Senate will vote on his confirmation.
Main Points to Make to Members of Congress
It is important that IAFC members fax letters to and call their senators in support of Chief Paulison. He has over 30 years of fire/rescue experience and is a highly qualified candidate to run FEMA. In addition, he has firsthand experience with the role that the federal government should play in supporting the fire service response to Stafford Act-declared emergencies and major disasters.
Please strongly urge your Senator to support Chief Paulison’s nomination.