We should use every disaster as an opportunity to learn and improve our mitigation capabilities to decrease the loss of life and damage to our homes and infrastructure.

Unfortunately, our focus on emergency preparedness oftentimes occurs in the aftermath of a natural disaster, which is too late.

The bottom line is, from the wildfires on the West Coast and tornadoes in the South to the hurricanes along the eastern seaboard of the United States, no area of the country is immune to the devastating effects of natural disasters.

Mitigation activities include upgrading and strengthening existing structures from all hazards, identifying sustainable flood and erosion control projects, purchasing hurricane shutters to resist wind, and managing vegetation to reduce potential fire fuel.

But pre-disaster mitigation has the potential to limit the negative effects of natural disasters.

I think there is bipartisan support for those grants.

Mr. Chairman, I have no doubt of your dedication, believe me. I want that on the record clear as day.

In fact, I guess beginning in the last year of the Obama administration, unfortunately all 3 years of the Trump administration, their budget has called for really radical, severe cuts in those grants.

Our point and our ask at this point is to continue to fund those programs, encourage communities to reach out and engage.

I will submit every question to you if okay with you regarding CFIUS and China.

I certainly look forward to it.