An investigative report from the House Committee on Homeland Security finds that the American National Red Cross (Red Cross) emergency disaster relief efforts over the past several years have not provided effective and necessary critical emergency relief services after large-scale natural disasters and other emergencies.

Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) says, "The Red Cross has pulled the wool over our eyes. Despite its reputation for being a reliable and trusted organization, a closer look at its performance in disaster relief reveals an inefficient group hampered by mismanagement and bureaucracy."

The investigation uncovers that Red Cross protocols are inadequate for large-scale emergency disaster response.

The report also identifies bureaucratic and overly cumbersome rules limit the agency's ability to mobilize resources to quickly provide equal care for all disaster victims, including the economically disadvantaged and people of color.

The findings of the report are important because the Red Cross is the only nongovernmental organization tasked by the Federal Government to provide "mass care" duties under the National Response Plan.

This report comes two days after Red Cross top executive Marsha Evans, the head of the American Red Cross, quit on Wednesday just hours before the charity's response to Hurricane Katrina was torn apart in Congress.