Kathleen Rice: “We need that in this country and around the world to protect Americans.”

I have seen the havoc that is wreaked in communities and among broken families. And it is just a terrible, preventable crime.

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.

I hope that that is what the practices is--or if it isn't, will be, going forward.

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.