[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 20, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Puerto Rico

  Mr. President, last, but certainty not least: Puerto Rico. As our 
fellow Americans in Puerto Rico continue to feel the wrath of Hurricane 
Fiona, we continue to monitor the situation here in Congress. Over the 
weekend, President Biden issued an emergency disaster declaration for 
Puerto Rico with 75 percent of the costs of emergency medical care, 
disaster response, and food distribution to be covered by the Federal 
Government.
  Yesterday, I got on the phone with the FEMA Administrator and urged 
FEMA to approve Puerto Rico's request to increase that figure to 100 
percent and to stand ready to approve a major disaster declaration 
request to unlock not just response money but funding needed to recover 
and rebuild. On the call were my colleagues Representatives Velazquez 
and Espaillat, and I echoed the calls from my colleagues to ensure 
maximum flexibility for those applying for FEMA assistance and to get 
Federal funding out of the door ASAP. Puerto Rico desperately needs it.
  Later this morning, I will join with the Hispanic Federation and a 
number of my colleagues to talk about additional steps we are calling 
on the Federal Government to take, including steps to strengthen Puerto 
Rico's electric grid. The electric grid is almost 50 years out-of-date. 
It is particularly susceptible to hurricanes. It hasn't even been 
repaired since the damage Hurricane Maria, 5 years ago, put upon it. 
Yet, we have given lots of Federal money for the reestablishment or the 
rebuilding of the grid, and very little has happened. So we need to 
focus on that issue as well as others.
  Five years to the day after the arrival of Maria, Puerto Rico needs 
help to recover from Fiona. We need to make sure, this time, Puerto 
Rico has absolutely everything it needs as soon as possible for as long 
as they need it.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority whip.

                          ____________________