Press Releases

Caucus Will Focus on Efforts to Protect and Enhance Federal Disaster Responses, Harden Infrastructure, and Better Prepare for Future Risks

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26), along with Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), and Dina Titus (D-NV) announced the leadership and membership of the Congressional Disaster Equity and Building Resilience Caucus for the 119th Congress.

Kennedy, the Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, will serve as Co-Chair of the Caucus alongside Reps. Thompson, Carter, and Titus. Established two years ago, the Caucus is dedicated to promoting resilience and ensuring equity in the nation’s disaster preparedness and response systems. Research has shown that disasters disproportionately affect racial minorities, rural populations, low-income communities, Native Nations, people with disabilities, seniors, and children. 

“Western New Yorkers know all too well the disproportionate impacts of extreme weather on our most vulnerable communities,” said Congressman Kennedy. “We saw this firsthand during a historic blizzard in December 2022 that took the lives of 47 individuals in my community. As these incidents become more frequent and more severe, we must ensure equity is at the forefront of the fight to improve disaster response, harden infrastructure, and build more resilient communities. I look forward to engaging in productive conversations as Co-Chair of the Disaster Equity and Building Resilience Caucus about the importance of parity in federal disaster assistance for extreme cold weather. I want to thank Ranking Member Thompson for his continuous and steadfast leadership in Congress to make disaster recovery and response more equitable.”

Kennedy and his fellow Co-Chairs, along with the broader membership of the Caucus, are committed to using this platform to drive forward discussion in Congress on how to create a more equitable response to disasters and build stronger, more resilient communities. 

Additional Caucus members include Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Al Green (D- TX), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Lou Correa (D-CA), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Pablo Hernández (D-PR), Julie Johnson (D-TX), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Nellie Pou (D-NJ).

###