Kathleen Rice: “The more trained and the better trained they are, the faster without sacrificing--we can be more efficient without…”

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.

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.

I think what we are--the subject matter of today's hearing brings me to that--again to that issue of how we get people around safely and efficiently.

I have heard from Jewish and interfaith organizations that the present funding levels are clearly insufficient to meet the current needs.