(Washington, D.C., September 29, 2005) -- Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector, testified this morning in front of the Senate Finance Committee at a hearing on “Hurricane Katrina: Community Rebuilding Needs and Effectiveness of Past Proposals.”

Ms. Aviv shared seven recommendations put together by the nonprofit sector following discussions among organizations that are contributing to the Katrina recovery effort or that have experience in previous disaster relief efforts.

The recommendations call on those involved in the ongoing reconstruction to:

1. Streamline existing federal and state assistance programs on a temporary basis to expedite service delivery.
2. Strengthen coordination among and clarity of roles of federal, state and local government agencies.
3. Put those who best understand the needs of their own communities -- local officials and civic leaders -- in charge of rebuilding efforts.
4. Support local charities damaged by the hurricanes so they can be effective partners in the relief and rebuilding efforts.
5. Ensure that charitable giving for relief comes in addition to, not in place of, contributions for ongoing needs in communities across the country.
6. Prevent and punish unscrupulous people who use disaster relief efforts to enrich themselves.
7. Reject proposals to fund relief and rebuilding by cutting vital assistance to other vulnerable people.

Read Ms. Aviv's:

• Oral testimony (PDF)
• Written testimony (PDF)

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Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 600 charities, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the charitable community.