[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Puerto Rico

  Now, there are a lot of Americans still waiting at this point for 
Puerto Rico and the disaster bill. A lot of Americans are still waiting 
for the Senate to put politics aside and help them piece their lives 
back together from natural disasters last year, from wildfires to 
floods, from tornadoes to hurricanes. Because of climate change, our 
weather is different--considerably different--and Americans are paying 
the price. We are also paying the price for not taking leadership on 
climate. But now I am here to discuss this relief package. Throughout 
our discussions here in Congress about the relief package, Democrats 
have maintained that it must include relief for all Americans affected 
by disasters last year, not just those Americans who live in the West 
and Midwest or South, but also the 3 million citizens living in Puerto 
Rico. It is not a zero-sum game. It is not that if you help Puerto Rico 
you would not be helping Florida or Iowa. You can help them all, and 
that is what Americans have always done.
  But there is some good news. I must say that I am encouraged that 
Republicans are starting to realize that we cannot leave Puerto Rico 
out. It may not have happened had Democrats not insisted all along that 
Puerto Rico be included, but our Republican friends are beginning to 
realize that if Puerto Rico is not in the package, no package will 
pass. As for their intransigence and obeisance to President Trump, when 
he came in out of the clear blue one day and bollixed up the package 
that had been carefully worked out between the Democrats and 
Republicans by insisting that no aid to Puerto Rico be in the package, 
it is clear to our Republican friends that is not working, and I am 
encouraged that Republicans have moved into our direction when it comes 
to disaster in Puerto Rico. I hope that we can find agreement soon and 
put this totally unnecessary political fight behind us and finally 
deliver relief to disaster-stricken Americans, wherever they may be.