Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the highest-ranking Latino in Congress, alongside Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07) today led ## colleagues in introducing a bicameral resolution marking the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria’s destruction in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This year’s anniversary comes as Category 1 Hurricane Fiona made landfall in the Caribbean, devastating Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic where widespread flooding and infrastructure damage has been already reported. There are currently hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans without power and water service, in addition to residents who have lost their homes as a result of the storm.
Hurricane Maria is the second deadliest storm in United States history, with the official death toll standing at 2,975 victims, while some academic experts estimate the toll to be as high as 4,645. It is also the third most costly tropical cyclone in our country’s history, with damages estimated to have cost more than $98 billion. This storm resulted in the complete collapse of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid and triggered physical and mental health, migration, housing and infrastructure crises that the island has continued to face in the years since the storm. The impact of this unprecedented natural tragedy was further exacerbated by the human-made tragedy of the Trump’s Administration response following Hurricane Maria.
“As we remember those who lost everything during Hurricane Maria five years ago today, one of the most devastating weather phenomena to affect the United States, my heart breaks for the people of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic following the landfall of Hurricane Fiona,” said Sen. Menendez. “This most recent storm demonstrates why the United States must do everything in its power to support our fellow Americans on the island as they find themselves yet again having to rebuild during great uncertainty for the future. The people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands deserve to know that the full force of the federal government stands behind them as they work to build a stronger, more sustainable future for all. Unfortunately, we are just beginning to grapple with the extent of Hurricane Fiona’s damages. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. My colleagues and I stand ready to support the people of Puerto Rico with urgent resources and critical funding.”
“Five years ago, the lives of Puerto Ricans and those with ties to the island changed forever,” said Rep. Velázquez. “More than three thousand perished not only because of a natural disaster but also as a direct result of political mismanagement by the Trump administration. This resolution is about honoring those lost, but also reaffirming the commitment of the federal government to do right for the island. Due to the recent landfall of Hurricane Fiona, the people of Puerto Rico are once again forced to face the devastating effects of a hurricane. While we continue to reflect on this solemn anniversary, we must work to fix the challenges that plague the island such as the failing electrical grid and a lack of full parity in federal benefits. I will continue to ensure under the Biden Administration, FEMA and other federal agencies need to work together to help rebuild the island’s infrastructure to be more sustainable and withstand future storms.”
Sen. Menendez is a long-time supporter of the people of Puerto Rico, and he has been an ardent advocate for ensuring the federal government fully supports Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in their continued recovery efforts, and the Senator will play an active role as Puerto Rico now works to recover from Hurricane Fiona. After the devastation by Hurricane Maria, Sen. Menendez led his colleagues in holding the Trump Administration accountable for its botched and inhumane response to the hurricane. The Senator led efforts to extend a foreclosure moratorium for FHA insured mortgages in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, which would have put struggling families at risk of homelessness, and held FEMA accountable for cutting off federal assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures in Puerto Rico.
In 2019, Sen. Menendez and his colleagues also called on the inspector general to review FEMA’s faltering efforts to rebuild Vieques’ health care facility divested by Hurricane Maria, and last year reintroduced legislation to ensure Vieques receives the federal assistance needed to help it rebuild. Last year, Sen. Menendez and Congresswoman Velázquez also introduced the Vieques Recovery and Redevelopment Act, which in part would support the people of Vieques in recovering from the damages of Hurricane Maria.
In the Senate, joining Sen. Menendez in cosponsoring the resolution are Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn,), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). In the House, joining Rep. Velázquez in cosponsoring the resolution are Reps. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.-15), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.-04), Darren Soto (D-Fla.-09), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.-04), Val Demings (D-Fla-10), and Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12).
Click HERE for a copy of the resolution.
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