NEWARK, N.J. - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the highest ranking Latino in the U.S. Congress, held a press conference today at Newark International Airport with local Puerto Rican community leaders to announce he is traveling to Puerto Rico to survey the devastation, gauge the federal response, and meet with local officials and residents on the ground to assess how Congress can help provide necessary resources.

Flanked by State Senator Teresa Ruiz, Newark City Councilman Luis Quintana, Newark City Councilman Anibal Ramos, the Senator announced he would be taking a commercial humanitarian flight out of Miami, Fla, to San Juan after the Trump Administration obstructed his previously organized Congressional Delegation (CODEL) with over a dozen Members of Congress.

CLICK TO WATCH Q & A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmCbHpWqvEc

Menendez has played a leading role in Congress to ensure the federal government provides the necessary help to the U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands impacted by Hurricanes Maria and Irma. He has received briefings from FEMA and the Governor of Puerto Rico in the past few days, and has called on Republican leadership to allow Congress to do its part to help the 3.5 million American citizens on the islands recover and rebuild. Since Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, leaving wrought historic devastation, Senator Menendez:

* Sent a letter with his Senate colleagues asking President Trump to waive the local cost shares for Puerto Rico for FEMA disaster assistance. The cost share for most projects is 75% federal, 25% local.

* Joined colleagues in sending a request to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke to extend the crucial Oct. 5 deadline for Dreamers to renew their DACA status in the wake of three storms that have disrupted the day-to-day lives of millions of people in the U.S., including in Puerto Rico.

* Lead a coalition of Senators in writing to Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell urging them to bring up an emergency disaster supplemental bill to fund CDBG-DR, FEMA's disaster relief fund (DRF), and other disaster accounts. FEMA is expected to run out of money in its DRF before the end of the calendar year and no CDBG-DR funding is currently available for PR.

* Sent a letter to U.S. Airlines serving Puerto Rico requesting they take additional steps that ensure victims of Hurricane Maria are not stuck on the island due to unreasonable fees or exorbitant ticket prices to the mainland United States.

* Joined colleagues in sending a letter expressing deep concern about the situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and outlining eight specific actions to be undertaken by the Trump administration.

Read this original document at: https://www.menendez.senate.gov/news-and-events/press/video-menendez-announces-fact-finding-mission-to-puerto-rico-to-survey-hurricane-damage-assess-federal-response

SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a premier provider of title, settlement and risk solutions for real estate transactions and the leader in the digital transformation of its industry, announced today that Darryl D. Button has been appointed to the company’s board of directors.

A highly accomplished insurance and financial services executive with more than 25 years of senior leadership experience at regulated financial services organizations in the U.S. and Europe, Button has served since April 2022 as president and chief executive officer of Pacific Mutual Holding Company, the parent company of Pacific Life Insurance Company and Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Button has extensive expertise in corporate strategy, capital and risk management, regulatory engagement, and technology-enabled transformation.

“We are pleased to welcome Darryl to First American’s board,” said Dennis J. Gilmore, executive chairman of First American Financial Corporation. “Darryl’s extensive leadership experience, including his insight in spearheading strategy and transformation across complex global financial services and insurance enterprises, will further deepen our board’s expertise as First American continues to innovate and deploy new technologies across its business.”

Before becoming Pacific Life’s chief executive officer, Button served as the company’s chief financial officer from 2017 to 2021. Previously, Button served as chief financial officer of Aegon N.V., a global financial services holding company headquartered in the Netherlands, from 2013 to 2016, capping a 17-year tenure with Aegon that included senior finance and actuarial leadership roles across its U.S. and European operations. His responsibilities at Aegon spanned global finance, capital and liquidity management, actuarial, reporting, treasury, tax and investor relations.

Button currently serves on the boards of Pacific Mutual Holding Company and its principal insurance subsidiaries and is chairman of the Pacific Life Foundation. He previously served on the executive board of Aegon N.V. and as chairman of the board of Transamerica Life Canada. He also serves as a director of the American Council of Life Insurers and the CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange County. Button earned a bachelor of mathematics in actuarial science from the University of Waterloo. He is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, as well as a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

About First American

First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) is a premier provider of title, settlement, and risk solutions for real estate transactions. With its combination of financial strength and stability built over more than 135 years, innovative proprietary technologies, and unmatched data assets, the company is leading the digital transformation of its industry. First American also provides data products to the title industry and other third parties; valuation products and services; mortgage subservicing; home warranty products; banking, trust and wealth management services; and other related products and services. With total revenue of $7.5 billion in 2025, the company offers its products and services directly and through its agents throughout the United States and abroad. In 2026, First American was named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Great Place to Work^® and Fortune Magazine for the eleventh consecutive year. More information about the company can be found at www.firstam.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103507603/en/

Media Contact:

Marcus Ginnaty

Corporate Communications

First American Financial Corporation

714-250-3298

Investor Contact:

Craig Barberio

Investor Relations

First American Financial Corporation

714-250-5214

Source: First American Financial Corporation