Rep. Espaillat Issues Statement on Federal Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., issued the following statement on federal efforts to provide relief to affected areas throughout the Caribbean in aftermath of Hurricane Maria:

"It is disappointing that President Trump spent the weekend attacking the NFL and top players of the NBA, and that he could not bother to lend a miniscule amount of support for Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the island of Dominica, the Virgin Islands, or any other nation affected by Hurricane Maria," said Rep. Espaillat. "Since the beginning of this month, I have been beating the drum in Congress to call for supplemental emergency funding for the Caribbean in the aftermath of these recent catastrophic storms. The disaster relief funding that Congress has appropriated is not nearly enough to provide relief following the devastation. We need emergency hearings and swift action to ensure that the countries affected get the necessary assistance needed to rebuild and recover.

"Currently, Puerto Rico is without power, but it is not without hope. I am working with my colleagues in Congress to push for emergency funding, a one year extension of the Jones Act, and for the local cost-sharing to be waived.

"To my Dominican-American and Puerto Rican constituents: I am with you. I will keep fighting for you in Congress, and I will urge my colleagues to join me in these recovery efforts. My offices are in continuous communications with FEMA, and we stand ready to assist with your efforts to connect with your family back home. You are not alone."