[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H71]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RELEASE FUNDS FOR PUERTO RICO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Velazquez) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday morning, southwest Puerto Rico 
was struck by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake.
  That seismic event followed hundreds of smaller quakes that had 
rattled the region since December 28. However, Tuesday's quake 
inflicted enormous damage, causing a school to collapse, killing at 
least one person, and leaving almost the entire island without power.
  Indeed, today, Puerto Rico's largest power generation facility, Costa 
Sur, remains offline as we speak. That power plant is responsible for 
40 percent of electricity generation on the island. Even as of last 
night, more than two-thirds of Puerto Ricans had no electricity.
  Mr. Speaker, 250,000 Puerto Ricans were without water. Hundreds of 
homes were damaged. As of last night, more than 5,200 Puerto Ricans 
were sleeping on the street, afraid their homes could collapse on them.
  For the people of Puerto Rico, this natural disaster evokes dark 
memories seared in our minds of how this administration and the Federal 
Government failed, turning a natural disaster into a humanitarian 
crisis.
  In 2017, because of this administration's incompetence and 
indifference, the Puerto Rican people suffered immensely. They endured 
the longest blackout in American history, and 3,000 of our fellow 
citizens lost their lives. We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes.
  Sadly, today, this administration's disdain for the people of Puerto 
Rico remains on full display, this time in the form of previously 
approved funds that it is withholding. In response to Hurricanes Maria 
and Irma, Congress passed $8.3 billion in HUD relief and mitigation 
funding, resources that HUD to this day refuses to release. Let me 
repeat that: The Secretary of HUD is violating the law, scoffing at 
congressional intent, and blocking the people of Puerto Rico from 
receiving previously approved disaster funds. This comes even after 
another disaster has stricken the island.
  We do not know yet how bad the devastation from this earthquake will 
be. We also do not know if there will be yet more earthquakes. But this 
is certain: It is unacceptable, especially now, for Secretary Carson 
and HUD to stand in the way of Puerto Rico's receiving previously 
allocated assistance. It is also illegal.
  Mr. Speaker, these are our fellow citizens. They deserve our 
compassion and our assistance. When wildfires or earthquakes hit 
California or hurricanes strike Texas, Americans stand together and 
assist one another. They give each other the helping hand that they 
deserve. But when it comes to Puerto Rico, this administration instead 
chooses to stand in the way, to block necessary aid, and to put lives 
at risk.
  Mr. Speaker, if these funds are not released and if Puerto Rican 
people perish in the aftermath of this earthquake, then I have to say 
that it will be the U.S. Federal Government that is responsible.
  We cannot afford further delay. HUD must release these funds 
immediately, and FEMA must get to work, helping Puerto Rico recover 
from the latest catastrophe.

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