[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 155 (Tuesday, September 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 SENATE RESOLUTION 641--MARKING 1 YEAR SINCE THE LANDFALL OF HURRICANE 
       MARIA IN PUERTO RICO AND THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS

  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 referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 641

       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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