Do you know why it took FEMA 10 days to give the Army Corps its mission?

The central question for us today should be, why is it taking so long to restore power in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and who is actually in charge of the effort to restore power to Puerto Rico?

Obviously, in addressing the panel, I have to say it, express my concern that the Federal response so far is nowhere near where it needs to be.

But you stated in your testimony that DOE is leveraging the National Labs to develop long-term solutions to improve resiliency.

We have heard varying reports as to how long it will take to restore power to the citizens of Puerto Rico.

The Federal Government needs to step up and take charge to expedite power restoration efforts.

Failing to invest wisely in Puerto Rico now will only cost all taxpayers more down the road.

I have serious concerns not only about how PREPA has overseen the effort to restore power in Puerto Rico, but also, more broadly, on how PREPA has managed or, more accurately, mismanaged the grid in Puerto Rico over the years.

The truth is that, taken together, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are currently experiencing the largest blackout in American history, and this nightmare for our fellow citizens is far from over.

You and I are not their customers. We are the product.

That is absolutely unacceptable.

I expect the industry to engage with these ideas, given the problems consumers face.