The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL SPRAYBERRY” mentioning Richard Burr was published in the Senate section on page S5138 on July 28.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL SPRAYBERRY
Mr. BURR. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the distinguished service of Michael ``Mike'' Sprayberry who will be retiring as director of North Carolina Emergency Management on August 1, 2021. Every citizen of North Carolina is indebted to Mike for his tireless efforts over the last 16 years to respond and rebuild following the countless disasters big and small that the State has faced.
Since his appointment as deputy director for North Carolina Emergency Management in 2005 and subsequent elevation to director in 2013, his department has been called upon to respond to 32 Federal emergency and disaster declarations, ranging from hurricanes and tornadoes to fuel shortages and a global pandemic. Throughout his time, he has served under four Governors and provided steady leadership to ensure that the State of North Carolina is prepared to respond to any crisis at all times.
While being charged with running emergency management operations for a large State is never easy, the last 5 years would have been an insurmountable challenge to almost anyone except to Mike Sprayberry. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew slowly crawled up the southeastern coast bringing record setting rain across nearly half of the State. While many had termed Hurricane Matthew a once in a generation event, less than 2 years later Hurricane Florence stalled along the coast once again bringing historical rains. In some areas of southeastern North Carolina over 30 inches of rain fell, cutting off Wilmington, NC, and other communities from the outside world for days. Through it all, Mike oversaw the rescue and sheltering of thousands of displaced North Carolinians while also ensuring that information continued to flow to Senator Tillis, myself, and other Federal agencies to allow for better federal coordination.
While communities across the State are thankful for North Carolina Emergency Management's quick response at the height of the storms to rescue hundreds trapped in their homes due to flood waters, Mike Sprayberry's lasting legacy will be his dogged effort to rebuild North Carolina better and more resilient than before. Understanding that billions of Federal aid would be coming to support recovery, Mike advocated for the creation of the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, including the establishment of the State's chief resilience officer, one of the first such positions in the country. He is a fierce proponent of the development of affordable housing and challenges his team daily to think about the long-term impacts they can make in storm preparation, storm recovery, and everything in between.
Mike Sprayberry has lived a life of service first as a U.S. marine, then 25 years in the North Carolina National Guard as a field artillery and infantry officer, and finally serving as director of North Carolina Emergency Management. While he will be missed, his reputation and the culture of preparedness he has built in the organization and across the State will live on.
____________________
Alerts Sign-up