Kathleen Rice: “If there is any Committee in Washington, D.C. that has the political courage to do what is necessary, it is this one.”

Whether due to poor State, local, and Federal coordination, understaffing, or even a lack of political will, the elderly and people of color do not benefit from Federal disaster relief compared to other Americans.

This tragedy hit home for one of our former colleagues, former Congressman Rick Nolan, who lost his daughter Katherine to lung cancer even though she did not smoke.

How can we create or encourage a more holistic approach to disaster relief that improves intergovernmental coordination?

We all agree that we have to put more money into this program across the board.