Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green announced Thursday that Representative Dale Strong has been selected to serve as Chairman of the Homeland Security Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee for the 119th Congress.
Congressman Strong has served as a first responder for over four decades, including as former assistant fire chief of one of Alabama’s largest volunteer fire departments and a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. Additionally, before coming to Washington, DC, he was Chairman of the Madison County Commission – the second largest county in the state.
“I am thrilled to once again serve on the Committee on Homeland Security, this time as chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology. With decades of experience as an EMT and volunteer firefighter, I not only have a frontline perspective on disaster preparedness, but I have immense gratitude for the men and women who keep our communities safe every day,” said Rep. Strong.
The Subcommittee focuses on emergency preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery; Department of Homeland Security grant programs; homeland security research and development; and the mitigation of weapons of mass destruction and health security threats. It maintains oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Science and Technology Directorate, the Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and the Office of Health Security.
“Sadly, the American people have faced endless crises over the past four years, exposing first responders to increased hazards on the job and revealing inefficiencies in the federal government’s response and preparedness when disaster strikes. Working alongside Chairman Green and my colleagues, I am committed to addressing these gaps and ensuring emergency management entities are equipped with the best technology, equipment, and training to accomplish their essential mission,” said Representative Strong.
“Representative Dale Strong’s decades-long experience as an EMT and volunteer firefighter continues to provide a unique voice for first responders and frontline emergency personnel on the Committee,” Chairman Mark Green said. “I have full confidence in Chairman Strong as he takes the gavel for the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology. He is immensely prepared to correct inefficiencies in the federal government’s emergency response and ensure community preparedness for a wide array of disasters.”
The Committee on Homeland Security provides congressional oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, whose primary mission is to secure our nation. This includes border protection, intelligence and counterterrorism, cyber security, emergency preparedness, and transportation security.
