Lee, Serrano Applaud Passage of Amendment Extending Disaster Unemployment Assistance for Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Rep. Barbara Lee, D-California, issued the following news release:

Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Congressman Jose Serrano (NY-15) offered an amendment to the FY19 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill extending disaster unemployment assistance by one year for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The amendment was accepted into the bill with bipartisan support.

"The people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still suffering from the destruction wreaked by Hurricanes Irma and Maria," said Congresswoman Lee. "As these families rebuild their communities and their lives, Congress should be offering a helping hand. After the hurricanes, many of our fellow citizens lost not only their homes - but also their livelihoods. For so many people, the recovery process on the islands has been painfully slow - and worsened by the incompetence and indifference of senior officials in the Trump Administration. With the adoption of this amendment, I hope Congress and the federal government will do more to help rebuild the economies in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."

"Almost a year after Hurricanes Maria and Irma ravaged Puerto Rico and the USVI, people in these territories are still suffering. Unemployment rates in both territories remain above the national average, further hindering residents' and territories' capacity to get back on their feet. This amendment will extend eligibility for the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program for an additional 26 weeks, in line with previous disasters, like Hurricane Katrina. This is an important step forward in helping the people of Puerto Rico and the USVI. I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Lee, for working with me on this amendment, and my colleagues on the Committee for supporting this much needed additional recovery aid," said Congressman Serrano.

The unemployment rate in Puerto Rico stands at 9.3 percent, more than double the national unemployment rate of 4 percent. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the unemployment rate of 11.8 percent is almost triple the national rate. As of March, almost 20,000 Americans has claimed disaster unemployment insurance related to Hurricanes Maria and Irma.