In the past decade, many federal agencies created to protect our health and well-being have been disempowered in order to serve political & corporate interests. Not only do the FDA, EPA, FEMA, et al. change policy based on which party is in the White House, they've also had cuts in funding/staffing, and are therefore unprepared for many emergencies. It is Congress' job to protect them - and us -from such abuses of power
~These agencies should be staffed by the most knowledgeable experts available in each field, in order to exercise their individual mandates. 
~They must be non-partisan, with authority to act according to scientific consensus, and overseen only by Congress, through bipartisan commitees informed by top academic consultants. .
~We're entitled to non-toxic food products, drugs, & landfills under our homes;to clean air & water; & to swift, effective help during emergencies, including natural disasters, and during recovery periods which follow, including aid in replacing homes lost to such disasters as Hurricane Katrina. 
~It was FEMA's job to provide permanent, adequate housing for these people, & it failed miserably to do so. But like Wall St. CEO's, FEMA clearly has no remorse & is now evicting the few elderly & physically or mentally disabled people who still live in the trailers lent to them. 
Although itself guilty of most of the delays in providing permanent homes, FEMA holds to bureaucratic deadlines, while making & following none for itself - in this case, thereby adding to the homeless population of New Orleans.    
~Such disasters could happen to any of us; while our food, drugs & imports go uninspected &/or improperly tested, and our land, air and water continue to be contaminated.  Congress needs to take some responsibility for these events; it must also ensure they never recur by passing legislation that requires all federal agencies to act on our behalf, unimpeded by political interests or corporate lobbyists. Please join me in urging your representatives to do so!