Thank you, Madam Chairman. Mr. Paulison, welcome back to the Committee. It's good to see you again. I would also like to welcome your family, who I see have joined you today.

Your nomination hearing comes just a few weeks after this committee released its report on the response to Hurricane Katrina. While committee members may not agree on how best to fix the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) problems, I think we all believe that strong, experienced leadership at FEMA is essential.

I was pleased to learn that the President chose a nominee who has made a career of emergency management. Mr. Paulison has been with FEMA since 2001, and prior to that, served in fire-rescue services for 30 years. In November 2005, I introduced S. 2040, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Qualified Leaders Act, to ensure that DHS is lead by individuals of the same caliber as Mr. Paulison.

One of my primary concerns is FEMA's budget. During the Committee's hearings on Hurricane Katrina, former FEMA Director Michael Brown testified that FEMA was underfunded during his tenure. When I asked him why he never reported these budget issues to Congress, he replied, "I would not want to be that disloyal (to the President)." While I believe that the President's political appointees serve at the pleasure of the President, if confirmed, it will be your job to serve the country, not just the President. Mr. Paulison, as the Director of FEMA, you will be charged with ensuring that the nation is prepared to respond to federal disasters. If the President's budget jeopardizes that mission, it is your responsibility to inform Congress, specifically this committee. I know you will take that responsibility seriously.

I also believe that FEMA's budget problems have been compounded by its placement under the DHS umbrella. I fear that FEMA will always be the forgotten stepchild of DHS. Just last week, the House Appropriations Committee passed a bill to decrease FEMA's FY 07 budget by $325 million from current spending levels. If FEMA isn't a funding priority now - during the first budget cycle after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast - it never will be. This is one of the reasons I support restoring FEMA to an independent, Cabinet-level agency.

A concern of my constituents in Hawaii is the preservation of the FEMA Pacific Area Office (PAO), which is located in Honolulu. The PAO has served Hawaii and the surrounding Pacific territories well for the past 13 years, coordinating disaster preparedness and response efforts. The importance of having a FEMA office in the Pacific was demonstrated in March when Hawaii endured 40 days of torrential rainfall and severe flooding. The PAO, whose staff have a longstanding relationship with Hawaii emergency managers, began coordinating with state and local officials immediately to survey the damage. It is unlikely this type of support would have occurred if the closest FEMA office was 2,500 miles away in California.

Last year FEMA considered closing the PAO to cut costs. As one of the Office's original sponsors, I fought this closure and secured a promise from former FEMA Director Brown to keep the PAO open. Mr. Paulison, when we met in my office last week, you made it clear that you understand the importance of having a FEMA office in the Pacific. I appreciate your support, and I will ask that you reaffirm your commitment to the PAO for the Record during my questioning.

Mr. Paulison, the third issue I'd like to discuss is pre-disaster mitigation. Like many others, I strongly opposed the abolishment of Project Impact, a FEMA disaster mitigation program that encouraged community preparedness through public-private partnerships, in 2001. Project Impact was replaced with the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program, which fails to offer the same sustained partnership between FEMA and the local communities. Nor does it provide the same opportunities for private sector involvement as Project Impact. I am looking for ways to improve upon the PDM program to revive these partnerships, and I hope, if confirmed, you will work with me on this effort.

Mr. Paulison, I commend you for your commitment to public service and emergency management. The position to which you have been nominated may not be the most popular job in the country right now, but it is clearly one of the most important which is why I hope that this Committee will not rush the confirmation process until all necessary questions have been answered.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.