Chairman Takano: "VA has to learn from the lessons of hurricane Maria"

Statement

Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano released the following statement after the Committee's Congressional Delegation to Puerto Rico this past weekend:

"After several reports, from both my staff and the media, surfaced alleging that VA may not be prepared for the next hurricane, we travelled to Puerto Rico to learn from VA and hear from some of the 90,000 veteran survivors of Hurricane Maria first hand. Unfortunately, this visit confirmed many of our fears.

"I am ashamed that Puerto Rican veterans like Pedro, an 89 year-old Korean War veteran and Borinqueneer, are still living in homes with blue tarps as makeshift roofs. I am angered by stories of veterans unable to access the care they have earned. And I am determined to make sure that we never forget about these veterans.

"Despite the heroic efforts by staff at the San Juan, VAMC during Hurricane Maria, VA leadership remains completely ill prepared to manage another natural disaster of the size and scope experienced in 2017. Veterans in San Juan, Guayama, Ponce and elsewhere on the island still do not have access to the resources, medications, and supplies they need to survive another storm or natural disaster.

"This is about more than just making resources available -- VA has to learn from the lessons of Hurricane Maria. It needs to take drastic steps to address shortfalls in its emergency preparedness, communications with veterans, prescription drug agreements, and evacuation plans, in order to make sure it can assist veterans during the next disaster.

"This weekend, I heard many stories of trauma and loss -- VA must listen, too, and treat disaster preparedness efforts with the seriousness it deserves. Before another disaster hits Puerto Rico, we need to do more to ensure our veterans are ready."

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