Reps. Thompson, Payne to Trump: You Must Commit to Puerto Rico Recovery

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Miss., issued the following news release:

Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, sent a letter to President Trump after yet another series of injurious tweets on Puerto Rico and the recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria. Reps. Thompson and Payne urge President Trump not to renege on the federal government's commitment to Puerto Rico's recovery and demand he ensure the federal government tells the truth on the ongoing response efforts there.

Congressman Thompson also released the following statement:

"Today's tweets from President Trump are, as I've said before, unbefitting of any president and are quite frankly heinous. It is beyond comprehension that the President is chomping at the bit to get the federal government out of Puerto Rico leaving our fellow Americans to somehow recover and rebuild on their own. Unfortunately, it seems that the President has made some sort of inhuman calculus that helping Americans in Puerto Rico is of no political benefit. The lack of leadership coming from this Administration when it comes to helping Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands continues to be appalling to those of us who know that much more needs to be done. Instead of being on a constant misinformation and spin campaign, with hopes that the real stories never get out, it is high time this Administration gets to work."

Link to Letter (https://benniethompson.house.gov/sites/benniethompson.house.gov/files/documents/trump1012.docx)