Rep. Velazquez Issues Statement on President Trump’s Hurricane Maria Comments

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, issued the following statement after President Trump referred to his administration's response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico as an "incredible unsung success":

"The President's remarks are not only tone deaf, but a moral affront to the 2,975 of our fellow citizens who we now know lost their lives to Hurricane Maria.

"The President should apologize."

* * *

To establish federal procedures for counting fatalities following a natural disaster, Velazquez has introduced the Counting Our Unexpected Natural Tragedies' (COUNT) Victims Act. To investigate the federal response to Hurricane Maria, Velazquez has introduced the National Commission of the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act.