Governor Andrew Cuomo, Governor Ricardo Rosselló and members of the New York Congressional Delegation today called on the federal government to immediately approve a $94.4 billion federal aid package to rebuild a stronger, more resilient Puerto Rico. Building on the efforts of New York State to help Puerto Rico rebuild after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, New York officials and business and nonprofit leaders conducted an assessment of the damage and identified specific funding recommendations to rebuild a stronger, more resilient Puerto Rico.
"Puerto Ricans are American
citizens who deserve support and compassion when faced with disaster, and this
federal funding is imperative to ensuring that the island builds back better
than ever before," Governor
Cuomo said. "We urge Congress to stop delaying this important
request, take responsibility and immediately approve this critical
funding."
"With the help of New York and
other partners, we are on the road to recovery after Hurricanes Maria and Irma,
but there is still a monumental amount of work to be done to rebuild Puerto
Rico," Governor Rosselló said.
"We are calling on Congress to recognize the people of Puerto Rico as
equal citizens of the United States and take action to give us the help we
desperately need. I thank Governor Cuomo and the New York delegation for their
partnership in our advocacy and for all of their work to help the people of
Puerto Rico."
The report's findings indicate that more
than 472,000 housing units were destroyed and severely impacted, hundreds of
thousands of Puerto Ricans have left to seek refuge in shelters or homes of
family and friends, the agricultural sector was nearly totally destroyed,
including the loss of almost 80 percent of planted crops and nearly
all of the water and wastewater were rendered inoperable. The breadth and
depth of this devastation presents an opportunity to "begin
again" and rethink the design of major components of the island's
infrastructure, invest in the quality and resiliency of its housing and public
buildings and modernize how basic services are delivered to residents.
The plan focuses on three areas of
assistance: Public Assistance Program; Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; and a Community Development Block Grant.
Within these areas, the plan identifies
sectoral impacts with specific and strategic investments to rebuild stronger
and better. The full report is available here.
Congresswoman
Louise Slaughter said, "Puerto Rico is a part of our
country and it is home to more than three million American citizens. The mayor
of San Juan had a simple request since the start of
the devastation: 'Do not forget us and do not let us feel alone.' We
have an obligation to help our citizens during what will be a longer than
anticipated period of rebuilding."
Congressman
Eliot Engel said, "For months, we in the New York
Congressional Delegation have called on our colleagues in Washington to help us
do more for Puerto Rico. The devastation our fellow citizens endured there was
catastrophic, and additional aid is not only necessary, but critical in order
for the island to make a full recovery. I am proud to join Governor Cuomo,
Governor Rosselló, and my Congressional
colleagues today in standing up for Puerto Rico, and urge Congressional
leadership to take up this aid package immediately."
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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