Trump Administration Releases Puerto Rico Relief Funds for 2017 Hurricanes But Adds Strings That Will Delay Payment and Recovery
Hispanic Federation condemns deceptive hurricane relief plan as Puerto Rico now recovers from recent earthquakes
WASHINGTON, DC — Underscoring the Trump administration’s contempt for Puerto Rico, federal officials said they will release $8.2 billion in long-delayed disaster relief aid for 2017 hurricanes that devastated most of the island, but with new conditions that were not ordered by Congress, undermining the self-governance of the island’s elected government and shamefully delaying the critical federal support, Hispanic Federation President Frankie Miranda said Tuesday.
The administration officially announced on Thursday the conditional release of the funds at the same time the president issued a major disaster declaration following recent earthquakes and aftershocks that have further undermined Puerto RIco’s infrastructure that was destabilized by 2017 weather disasters. The House is expected to vote next week on a $3.35 billion emergency relief bill for Puerto Rico in the wake of the multiple earthquakes.
“The administration’s decision to release, with unreasonable conditions not attached to any other recovery funds, $8.2 billion of the $18 billion authorized by Congress for Puerto Rico for Hurricanes Irma and Maria, adds salt to the wounds suffered by island residents who have suffered even more losses of family members, property and safety after recent earthquakes and aftershocks,” said Miranda, whose organization has provided emergency relief and has initiated 118 recovery and rebuilding projects in Puerto Rico since the 2017 extreme weather disasters.
“The facts clearly show the Trump administration has illegally withheld disaster relief funds authorized by Congress for the 2017 hurricanes. The new requirements for the hurricane disaster aid, especially in the wake of the ongoing earthquakes that are worsening conditions in the U.S. territory, callously disregard the health and safety of Puerto Ricans living on the island,” Miranda added.
The recovery funds, which were authorized by Congress in February, 2018, and illegally held back by the administration since last September, would be released under conditions not authorized by Congress and would prevent Puerto Rico from directly accessing the aid. The details will be published in coming days, but news reports state the caveats would require:
- Puerto Rico’s government to turn over part of its federal spending authority to the unelected federal Fiscal Control Board for unspecified federal projects;
- Contractors who are working to reconstruct vital services to be paid less than $15 per hour, even though the former Puerto Rico governor signed an executive order in 2018 setting the $15 rate for government-contracted construction workers;
- Creation of a home ownership registry, which would be difficult for Puerto Ricans who may not have access to documents, formal land ownership records, personal identification and other critical home ownership proof in the wake of continuing disasters;
- Denial of funds for Puerto Rico’s deficient electrical grid, even though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which has been awarded the largest amount of recovery funds for Puerto Rico disaster relief and rebuilding, is still holding back $2 billion specifically appropriated by Congress for the grid. The administration’s refusal to send the funds leaves the energy system no more resilient today than it was the day after Maria hit the island in 2017.
“The administration’s flagrant and inhuman treatment of Puerto Rico must end. By obstructing Congress’ enactment of hurricane relief funds nearly two years ago, the administration has prevented Puerto Rico from restoring basic structural needs like homes and the electrical system,” Miranda said. “While the major disaster declaration by the president for recent earthquakes is warranted, stonewalling funding for the electrical grid and other disaster relief from two years ago is absolutely inexcusable. Congress has spoken and Trump must order his administration to abide by the law,” Miranda added.
