Letter to the Honorable Lisa Murkowski, Chairman and the Honorable Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member, Committe on Energy and Natural Resources - Call for Investigation into Puerto Rico's Ongoing Power Woes

Letter

Dear Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Cantwell:

We write to request that your committee hold additional hearings on hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, particularly to investigate the ongoing power restoration work. We are deeply concerned that six months after Hurricane Maria hit the island, there are still residents without power and many more with only irregular or intermittent electricity.

We appreciate your leadership in holding previous discussions on this issue in the full Committee, including your November 14th oversight hearing. However, at this stage more information is needed. For example, the Army Corps of Engineers is reportedly drawing down the number of utility repair workers on the island. We would welcome an opportunity to discuss the Corps' decision to begin reducing this workforce on the island while our fellow Americans in Vieques, Caguas, and elsewhere continue to struggle.

Reliable power is critical to the island's economic recovery and is necessary for the health and well-being of Puerto Ricans.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.