Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief and Puerto Rico Disaster Tax Relief Act, 2020
Floor Speech
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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, I thank Chairwoman Lowey and all the members of the Appropriations Committee for working diligently to bring this bill to the floor and for recognizing our moral and legal obligation of this Congress.
Puerto Rico, an island invaded by the United States Armed Forces, a colony--it is our responsibility to take care of our fellow American citizens.
Don't come here and say that we have been there for Puerto Rico.
Yes, we passed a disaster relief package. And this administration has done everything within their power to withhold the money flowing to Puerto Rico.
Don't come here and say that you have been there for Puerto Rico. Don't tell that to the parents of a 13-year-old girl who died in Vieques because they lack a functional hospital while FEMA has been withholding their money.
Just this past Tuesday, Puerto Rico got hit by another 5.0 aftershock. This is one out of more than 3,000 that have stricken the island since December 2019. In fact, the USGS has estimated that aftershocks from the 6.4 January earthquake will persist in Puerto Rico for years, if not decades.
Imagine, decades of feeling the ground under you shaking, never knowing when or just how bad it will be on any given day.
More than 1,150 houses are destroyed, while another 3,000 homes have suffered some structural damage. Such devastation has left over 4,000 people living in tent shelters, with many more families at risk of losing their homes.
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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, I thank the chairwoman for yielding.
Not only are 194,000 children still out of school, countless more live in fear after they have seen their homes destroyed and loved ones battle the anxiety and mental health battles common after natural disasters.
Finally, let me address this administration's recent comments on this bill. Once again, they are misleading the American people about how much money has been spent to aid Puerto Rico. They are using these false numbers as a pretext to oppose assistance following the earthquake.
Let me just say, and let me be clear, we will not be deterred. The 1.3 million Puerto Ricans who live in Florida will not be deterred. The thousands and hundreds of thousands who live in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and in every part of this country will not be deterred.
We will pass this bill.
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