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[Page H19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORT DISASTER ASSISTANCE IN PUERTO RICO
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon) for 5 minutes.
Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in
support of the people of Puerto Rico. They are still struggling from
the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017 and now are dealing with
incessant seismic activity on the island since December 28 of last
year.
Puerto Ricans still need ongoing assistance from Federal disaster
programs, like those offered by FEMA and the Department of Housing and
Urban Development. Today, I would like to emphasize HUD's work,
particularly through its Community Development Block Grant program and
the disaster relief program for Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico has an allotment of over $20 billion under CDBG-DR
programs that will be spent on unmet needs and mitigation expenses to
ensure local infrastructure is restored and in a better position to
withstand future disasters. This clearly puts us in a positive position
to restore our housing stock, economic activity, and damaged
infrastructure.
However, of the $20 billion, only $1.5 billion is currently available
to be drawn down by the grantee, the Puerto Rico Department of Housing.
Although this is a large amount, delays and other challenges have
impeded the availability of these additional funds.
To make matters worse, Puerto Rico has been experiencing a sequence
of tremors since December 28, including a 6.4 magnitude earthquake
yesterday during the early morning and a replica of 6.0 in the morning
as well. The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks have caused
significant housing and infrastructure damages in the south part of our
island, including the towns of Guanica, Guayanilla, Penuelas, and
Ponce, among others.
My constituents are afraid and uncertain of when these occurrences
will cease, and the reason for that is approximately more than 400
people are still in shelters. One death has been reported.
Additionally, there was an immediate power outage that impacted the
entire island. As we speak, 75 percent of the island is without power
and without electricity.
I commend President Trump for signing the Federal emergency
declaration last night. It is clear that the people of Puerto Rico will
need Federal assistance to fully assess damages, recover, and prepare
for other future events.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, aftershocks and an increase
in overall seismic activity are expected throughout the next week,
including a chance of another large earthquake that could cause
additional damage. I am confident that we will show the strength and
resiliency once more in the face of another disaster, but we cannot do
it alone.
That is the reason, when you see schools that were impacted on the
island, crushing one of the schools in Guanica--thank God there were no
kids present at that time. Because the Governor resumed order, the
classes were suspended, and we saved a lot of lives in that school.
But we can't do it alone. That is the reason we need to secure proper
disbursement of funds requiring planning and preparation, and we must
ensure local agencies in Puerto Rico, like the Department of Housing,
are equipped to manage and oversee the funds. Therefore, I understand
bolstering capabilities, and I understand the changes and challenges.
We need improvement, but I do not understand the repeated delays, the
lack of information, and the violation of congressionally mandated
deadlines for the CDBG-DR funds.
Mr. Speaker, whatever changes or improvements need to be made must be
made within the bounds, guidelines, and deadlines set forth by Congress
to the Federal agencies. Puerto Rico is currently waiting for an
agreement for an additional allotment of $8 billion for unmet needs,
which already has an approved action plan and now needs a signed
agreement for that money, including $2 billion for restoring our
depleted power grid. These are urgent needs at this time.
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