On the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Maria, Congressman García Urges Robust Response to Hurricane Fiona
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement marking the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Maria as Puerto Ricans now face the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona
“I am disheartened that after five years Puerto Rico has not fully recovered from Hurricane Maria and the island now faces another devastating hurricane with severe flooding that threatens the lives of many. More than 1.5 million Puerto Ricans remain without power, and almost 800 thousand have lost access to clean water as a result of Hurricane Fiona.
“My heart is with each and every Boricua and their loved ones.
“Let’s make one thing clear: the hurricane alone did not create this catastrophe. We cannot ignore generations of colonialism coupled with disinvestment in Puerto Rico’s infrastructure and electrical grid. Recovery efforts must be met with a recognition of this history and material solutions to address it.
“When American's face natural disasters, the federal government responds with the full force of our nation's emergency response apparatus. When disaster strikes our Puerto Rican sisters and brothers -- our fellow Americans -- they are met with disparate treatment. Today, we have an opportunity, and obligation, to reverse the trend and ensure a government relief effort that fully meets the magnitude of this crisis.
“I applaud the Biden Administration for acting quickly to respond to this most recent catastrophe. I urge the Administration to go further and reimburse Puerto Rico for 100% of the cost of permanent recovery, not just the current 75% reimbursement rate for recovery costs. There’s no room for compromise when it comes to keeping our fellow Americans safe.
“We know Puerto Ricans on the island and in the diaspora are resilient. They will continue to have an ally in me to fight for the justice they deserve. We must ensure our response is swift and delivers long-term, meaningful solutions and that we support Puerto Rico for as long as needed.”