Rep. Soto Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging FEMA To Not “Shut Off” Food and Water Aid to Puerto Rico
The relief aid scheduled to end Wednesday, Jan. 31
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Jenniffer González-Colón, led a bipartisan letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging Administrator Long to continue distributing water and food supplies to Puerto Rico, following announcements that FEMA plans to "shut off" this aid to the island beginning tomorrow. The letter is co-authored by 30 Members of Congress, including the two U.S. Senators from Florida, Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio.
"Now is not the time to cut off this life-sustaining assistance. If Florida, or other states, were facing similar situations as the island, there would be an outrage by Members of Congress. We urge FEMA to reconsider; American lives are at stake!" stated Rep. Darren Soto.
"It's too soon to, without notice, shut off FEMA's deliveries of food and water to tens of thousands of US citizens in Puerto Rico who are still in desperate need of these vitally needed provisions. For many in Puerto Rico the humanitarian emergency is far from over. FEMA's decision to immediately end the delivery of basic life sustaining supplies to our most vulnerable people is both untimely and unreasonable and must be overturned," said Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón
133 days after Hurricane Maria, tens of thousands of U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico continue to struggle due to a lack of power and limited access to resources, especially in remote areas of the island. If FEMA's food and water aid are halted, many Puerto Ricans will be forced to choose between fuel for their generators or food and water for their families.
Click here or see below for the full text of the letter.
January 30, 2018
The Honorable William B. Long
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20472
Dear Administrator Long:
We respectfully request the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continue distributing supplies of food and water in Puerto Rico. Many U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico continue to struggle, some lacking access to power or running water, 133 days after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Many Puerto Rican localities still face significant challenges accessing basic needs, and FEMA has played a critical role in ensuring Puerto Ricans across the island are receiving these goods and services. Now is not the time to remove this life-sustaining assistance.
Puerto Ricans in some parts of the island are struggling to make ends meet with limited access to food, water and other supplies. Many towns are still inaccessible by vehicle, making it difficult to distribute adequate supplies. Families will continue to leave the island if their basic needs are not met – the most fundamental of which are food and water.
We urge you to continue distributing food and water aid in Puerto Rico until the situation on the island has substantially improved.
Sincerely,
Darren Soto (D-FL)
Jenniffer Gonz ález-Colón (R-PR)
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Robert A. Brady (D-PA)
Anthony G. Brown (D-MD)
Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX)
Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL)
Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL)
Al Lawson, Jr. (D-FL)
Ted Lieu (D-CA)
Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)
James P. McGovern (D-MA)
Grace Meng (D-NY)
Stephanie N. Murphy (D-FL)
Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA)
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ)
Stacey Plaskett (VI)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Dennis Ross (R-FL)
José E. Serrano (D-NY)
Albio Sires (D-NJ)
Norma J. Torres (D-CA)
Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY)
Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL)