Reed Urges Trump to Increase Emergency Aid to Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- The office of Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Jack Reed is calling for a stepped-up response to the dire post-hurricane humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Reed, along with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and 38 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to President Trump expressing deep concern about the situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and urging swift action by the federal government.

"The humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is an American crisis. The federal government has a responsibility to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of all citizens and the Trump Administration needs to step up and deliver. There has to be a sense of urgency and there has to be improved coordination and mobilization," said Senator Reed.

In the letter, the Senators stated: "We write to express deep concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria recently knocked out the entire island's electric grid leaving at least 3.4 million Americans with no power, decimated countless structures, and claimed the lives of at least 16 individuals. Hospitals have no running water or basic supplies, and 95% of cellphone structures are still inactive. As a result, we still do not have an accurate assessment of the destruction."

"In the words of Governor Ricardo Rossello, the people of Puerto Rico have been "essentially devastated." The United States Virgin Islands has also suffered catastrophic damage. While they slowly begin their recovery, more help is needed."

"At a time when there is not a second to lose and the health and well-being of millions of Americans in the U.S. territories depend on swift action, we have identified several areas where strong and decisive leadership is needed," the letter continues.

The letter outlines eight specific actions to be undertaken by the Trump administration:

1. Calls on President Trump to issue a full Disaster Declaration for the entire island of Puerto Rico, which has yet to happen.

2. Calls on President Trump to appoint a Special Assistant for Rebuilding, to coordinate the multi-faceted federal efforts for Puerto Rico across all departments and agencies.

3. Calls on President Trump to request more funding to assist Puerto Rico's Medicaid program.

4. Calls on President Trump to utilize all federal resources to restore power, including sending Department of Energy experts; 500 utility employees; 100 fuel trucks; and 200 generators.

5. Calls on President Trump to send more Department of Defense assets: construction battalions to repair power and transportation infrastructure, command and control aircraft for air traffic control; helicopters for search and rescue; and 1,500 service members to provide disaster and humanitarian assistance.

6. Calls on President Trump to work with Congress to waive the local cost share requirement for FEMA public assistance disaster funding for all categories of FEMA public assistance.

7. Calls on President Trump to send assets and expertise from across the federal government to restore communications, including from Department of Commerce, FCC, Coast Guard, and DOD.

8. Calls on President Trump to ensure that FEMA, Coast Guard, and DOD work together effectively to restore all ports to working condition.

In addition to Reed and Cantwell, the letter was also signed by 38 other U.S. Senators, including: Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Angus King (I-ME), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Al Franken (D-MN), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).