On the recordFebruary 7, 2020
Madam Chair, I thank the chairwoman for the generous introduction and time on this bill. Madam Chair, the fact of the matter is that innocent children, families, and the elderly in Puerto Rico are dying. They are breathing poisoned air, and they are now enduring the psychological trauma of ongoing earthquakes. My own grandmother is oxygen dependent, and every day when the Earth shakes below her, we don't know if she will have the power to continue her equipment that is medically necessary. While everyone here is arguing over money and over the administration of a colonial state, we have to take a look at the actual reality on the ground. Ninety-five percent of schools in Puerto Rico are not up to code. They are leaving thousands of Puerto Rican children vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters. Many have lost all their belongings, and many more live with psychological trauma. But this administration is not releasing any of these funds that are supposed to be duly allocated for recovery. For that, we have to make sure that we support this bill, and I strongly support H.R. 5687.





