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HF Statement on President Trump’s Threats to Abandon Puerto Rico Recovery Efforts

October 12, 2017 (New York, NY) – Once again today, President Trump took aim at the people of Puerto Rico by blaming them for the economic crisis gripping the island and warning that “We cannot keep FEMA, the Military and the First Responders in P.R. forever.” By now, we have grown accustomed to the President’s loose hold on facts, his childish need to lash out at real or perceived enemies, and his, frankly, astonishing inability to accept criticism. But in attacking Puerto Rico in the aftermath of a cataclysmic hurricane, President Trump has shown a new level of callousness and cruelty.

Nearly 85% of Puerto Ricans are without power. Getting potable water and food remains a daily struggle for an unbearable number of our families. The island’s hospitals lack medicines and supplies; its roads are damaged when not destroyed. In short, an island with 3.5 million of our fellow citizens is fast becoming the worst humanitarian crisis in American history.

Yet, the President seems immune to the reality that he is overseeing a calamity.

Because the President has proven incapable of leading a difficult but necessary project of relief, recovery and reconstruction in Puerto Rico, it is up to Congress, state governments, and Americans of goodwill to make sure that Puerto Rico receives the support it needs. We must make sure that FEMA officials on the island, working in tandem with military personnel and first responders, including law enforcement, understand that millions of Americans are depending on them and that this is a life or death struggle for our people on the island.

We especially need members of Congress to quickly draft and approve a comprehensive aid bill that not only starts the process of reconstruction immediately, but also addresses the structural inequalities that have left the island ill-prepared to handle a calamity such as Hurricane Maria. That includes repealing the Jones Act and creating a workable plan to right the island’s finances by providing health care funding equity and by reducing its crippling debt load.

This kind of comprehensive response from our leaders will require innovation, thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit. In short, it will require the sort of leadership skills that the President of the United States lacks. We have faith that where the President has failed us, other will rise to the challenge. We stand ready to work with them and help rebuild Puerto Rico.

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About Hispanic Federation The mission of the Hispanic Federation is to empower and advance the Hispanic community. The Hispanic Federation provides grants and services to a broad network of Latino non-profit agencies serving the most vulnerable members of the Hispanic community and advocates nationally with respect to the vital issues of education, health, immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement and the environment. For more information, please visit www.hispanicfederation.org.