Rep. Adriano Espaillat Statement Marking One Year Anniversary of Hurricane Maria and Devastation to Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Statement

Today, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement and video to mark the anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which made landfall on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on September 20, 2017.

"Today marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria and the devastation that continues to impact the American citizens of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 365 days after the storm," said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "The Trump Administration has not done nearly enough to help residents get their lives back on track as families continue to face major crises mired in devastation and heartbreaking daily realities.

"One year later -- schools are still closed; one year later -- homes remain boarded; one year later -- the death toll continues to climb. The handling of Hurricane Maria and its aftermath, including the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost, is a humanitarian crisis that President Trump has failed to even acknowledge."

Watch video released today highlighting Rep. Espaillat's efforts to continue support of Puerto Rico.

Earlier this year, Rep. Espaillat introduced the Housing Victims of Major Disasters Act in collaboration with Rep. Jenniffer González Colón, to specifically address the critical needs and ongoing challenges that residents who have lost their homes continue to face. Additionally, Rep. Espaillat pushed for an extension of FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) benefits for hundreds of residents and families who evacuated Puerto Rico and temporarily relocated for refuge in New York City and throughout the mainland U.S. Through his legislative agenda, Rep. Espaillat vows to continue his call for emergency federal hearings and financial assistance to help residents get their lives back on track.

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