Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that this Committee is considering the nomination of Anthony S. Lowe for Administrator of the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), at FEMA. I welcome his wife, Angela; his daughters, Ashton and Ariana; his mother, Betty Harris; his brother, Reverend Paul Lowe; his mother-in-law, Barbara Barry; and her husband, Mohamadou.
I'd like to take a few moments to tell the Committee about Anthony's background and qualifications. In 1982, Anthony graduated cum laude from the University of Washington with a degree in international political science. He went on to receive his law degree from the University of Santa Clara in California, and he has studied law in Singapore and China. Prior to working for me, Anthony was a Land Planning Commissioner for the City of Redmond, Washington from 1994-1996.
In this position, Anthony had an opportunity to apply many of the land use planning guidelines that are now administered by the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.
He served as my Senior Legislative Counsel on the Antitrust, Business Rights, and Competition Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee. Anthony possesses great integrity and has the professional background and executive skills necessary to get the job done.
Because the FIMA Administrator must develop broad strategies and set policy, as well as persuade and coordinate with others at the highest levels, the success of its natural hazard risk reduction programs will rest on the ability of someone who can lead and forge relationships. That is precisely what Anthony Lowe will bring to this position.
While working for me, Anthony spearheaded legislative initiatives on anticrime and counter-terrorism technology, law enforcement assistance, and legal protections for the mentally ill and children.
Among these legislative issues, one of the most notable laws enacted was the "Crime Identification Technology Act of 1998," with its billion-dollar authorization and its charge to assist state and local communities in their anticrime and counter-terrorism technology programs. That law has helped set the tone for the application of technology in securing our borders against terrorism. It is also part of our effort to keep citizens out of harm’s way in the event of a man-made disaster.
Anthony's federal, state, and local government experiences also have given him a unique perspective to oversee the complex programs of the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration. Furthermore, because he has significant experience fashioning and implementing national programs, I know he appreciates the complex programs of FEMA -- the National Flood Insurance Program, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, and Dam Safety, among many others that actually are delivered at the local level.
All of this demonstrates, Mr. Chairman, that Anthony Lowe is right for the job of Administrator of the FIMA. I am confident that he will bring the same leadership, the same personal and professional integrity, and the same determination to the position of Administrator. I whole-heartedly support his confirmation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.
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