Trip to P.R. Prompts Action by Maloney

WASHINGTON, DC – After participating in a bipartisan Congressional Delegation trip to Puerto Rico to see the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) called for urgent additional aid for the struggling U.S. territory. Rep. Maloney was invited to survey the damage and learn more about recovery efforts on the bipartisan, White-House organized trip.

“Our initial response is finally coming together and although the challenges seem almost overwhelming, we will get through this crisis together as Americans,” said Rep. Maloney. “I remember being in the City on 9/11 and walking to work to find a pile of rubble and not knowing if my kid was safe and just feeling totally powerless – the folks in Puerto Rico are dealing with a serious crisis like that and we need to get in the game to help like we did after 9/11.”

Rep. Maloney joined officials from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to survey the damage. Rep. Maloney was one of  several members of Congress from both parties who attended the trip. Other attendees included Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). House members Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), and Resident Commissioner Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR) were also in attendance.

The House of Representatives will vote on a $36.5 billion emergency aid package to Puerto Rico. The measure will provide $18.7 billion for FEMA and $16 billion for the flood insurance program. Nearly $5 billion of the funding allocated for FEMA will provide low-interest Treasury loans to help the Government of Puerto Rico continue to operate in the face of a massive debt crisis. This is the second of three anticipated funding boosts to help FEMA provide aid to areas recovering from Hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria.