View Video of Senator Rosen’s Opening Remarks HERE.
WASHINGTON, DC – During a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced David Fogerson, Chief of the Nevada Division of Emergency Management and Office of Homeland Security, and asked questions about the challenges Nevada communities face when responding to wildfires and wildfire smoke. In the exchange, they both highlighted how the inability to receive a Major Disaster Declaration for dangerous air quality as a result of wildfire smoke is making it difficult for communities in Nevada affected by the smoke to receive federal funds.
Below is the transcript of Senator Rosen’s introduction of Chief Fogerson:
ROSEN: It is my distinct honor and pleasure to introduce Nevada’s own David Fogerson, the Chief of the Nevada Division of Emergency Management and the Office of Homeland Security.
Welcome Chief.
Chief Fogerson has over 30 years of experience in public safety, serving in a number of different roles, including as a wildland firefighter himself and as Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Manager for Nevada.
In our state of Nevada, the unique landscape, the changing climate, the amount of land owned by the federal government – over 80 percent by the way – make wildfire mitigation and recovery all the more challenging.
And that’s why we need strong leaders like Chief Fogerson who create collaborative partnerships and encourage innovation in our approach to addressing wildfires.
We are so lucky to have someone with as much experience and insight as Chief Fogerson leading Nevada’s response to devastating wildfires and working with leaders across the country to address the increasing challenges that wildfires are now presenting.
Nevada needs to be – we must be – at the table in these important conversations.
And so it’s why I’m pleased that Chief Fogerson represented our state on the Wildland Fire Mitigation Management Commission, which was charged with making these important recommendations to Congress on wildfire strategies and response. And I think you won’t find a state in the nation anymore that is immune from wildfires.
I’m so glad to have you here today testifying before this Committee. We thank you for your service to our state.
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