On the recordJanuary 28, 2015
Today I rise to highlight San Diegan Brian Fennessy, assistant fire chief of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, who is here in D.C. sharing his expertise fighting wildfires so that communities across the country can be better prepared. This morning, Chief Fennessy testified before the House Transportation Committee's Economic Development Subcommittee on ways to speed up disaster recovery and save taxpayer dollars by lessening the harm of disasters. In San Diego, we have learned many lessons from the numerous firestorms of the last decade, including the importance of increasing preparedness and emergency planning, and the need for coordination among various levels of government. As extreme weather becomes more prevalent, sharing information from local experiences on what does work and doesn't work will only become more important. So thank you to Chief Fennessy for sharing your experience, and I thank all of the brave men and women of the San Diego Fire Department. ____________________





