January 10, 2020: Statement on the Ongoing Crisis in Puerto Rico

January 10, 2020: Statement on the Ongoing Crisis in Puerto Rico

1.10.2020

By Communications Department

NYSBA President Hank Greenberg issued the following statement on the ongoing crisis in Puerto Rico:

“Thousands of our fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico continue to suffer at the hands of Mother Nature. The island, which is still recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Maria in September 2017, was rocked this week by two powerful earthquakes. The quakes caused further human suffering due to widespread power outages and property losses.

In the wake of Maria, Congress appropriated federal funding for the island’s reconstruction. Today, over two years later, the residents of Puerto Rico are still waiting for these promised funds. The federal government continues to hold up the disbursement of a promised $8.3 billion in Community Development Block Grant funding for Disaster Recovery (CBDG-DR).

I join with our delegation’s congressional leaders, including U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, in calling for the immediate release of the remaining money Puerto Rico deserves and so desperately needs.

I urge the federal government to live up to its promise to its citizens in Puerto Rico.

Time and again, Governor Andrew Cuomo has demonstrated New York stands in solidarity with the people of Puerto Rico, and I applaud his continued efforts to assist them – including this week’s deployment of New York Power Authority experts to assist with the quick restoration of power.”

Contact: Dan Weiller

518/369-5550

dweiller@nysba.org