[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 651 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 651

Marking 1 year since the landfall of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and 
                   the United States Virgin Islands.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 25, 2018

Mr. Nelson (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Casey, Ms. Cortez 
Masto, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Warren, Ms. Harris, 
 Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Peters, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Blumenthal) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Marking 1 year since the landfall of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and 
                   the United States Virgin Islands.

Whereas, on September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria passed through the United States 
        Virgin Islands as a category 5 hurricane and made landfall in Puerto 
        Rico as a category 4 hurricane, causing significant devastation across 
        those islands;
Whereas the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have 
        shown an incredible and resilient spirit in rebuilding after their 
        record losses;
Whereas Hurricane Maria contributed to an estimated 2,975 deaths in Puerto Rico;
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that 
        Hurricane Maria caused an estimated $90,000,000,000 in damage to Puerto 
        Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, making Hurricane Maria the 
        third-costliest hurricane in United States history;
Whereas, as a result of Hurricane Maria--

    (1) 3,300,000 residents of Puerto Rico were left without electrical 
power;

    (2) 95 percent of cellular sites were knocked out;

    (3) 80 percent of water service was inoperable; and

    (4) thousands of Puerto Ricans were displaced from their homes and 
relocated to the mainland United States;

Whereas significant challenges remain in recovery and rebuilding efforts in 
        Puerto Rico 1 year after Hurricane Maria hit;
Whereas Congress appropriated billions of dollars with the specific purpose of 
        directly helping the citizens of Puerto Rico to rebuild their lives in 
        the aftermath of the hurricane;
Whereas the electrical grid on the island of Puerto Rico remains unreliable and 
        susceptible to intermittent brownouts and blackouts; and
Whereas many Puerto Ricans continue to be displaced without access to permanent 
        housing both on the island of Puerto Rico and on the mainland: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that September 20, 2018, marks 1 year since 
        the landfall of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico;
            (2) honors the victims who lost their lives due to 
        Hurricane Maria;
            (3) commends the resiliency of those still rebuilding their 
        lives after Hurricane Maria;
            (4) recognizes the continued challenges facing Puerto Rico 
        and the United States Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricane 
        Maria;
            (5) commits to ensuring that survivors of Hurricane Maria 
        have adequate resources to continue the recovery process;
            (6) extols the work of first responders and citizens who 
        contributed to saving countless lives in the aftermath of 
        Hurricane Maria; and
            (7) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to support the 
        people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands as 
        they continue to rebuild and recover from the devastation of 
        Hurricane Maria.
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