Which organization is chartered by Congress to provide disaster relief and is a nongovernmental agency?

• A. National Disaster Medical Teams
• B. Nurses Response Network
• C. FEMA
• D. American Red Cross

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is the status provided by a congressional charter and what it means to be a nongovernmental humanitarian organization. The American Red Cross has a congressional charter, granted by Congress, establishing it as a private nonprofit that provides disaster relief, emergency assistance, and education. It operates independently of the federal government, relying on private donations and governed by a civilian board, while still collaborating with government agencies when needed. FEMA, by contrast, is a federal agency under the government, so it isn’t nongovernmental. The other options involve organizations or programs that are tied to government structures or do not have a congressional charter as their defining status. Therefore, the American Red Cross best fits both criteria: a congressional charter and nongovernmental.