Congressional Hispanic Caucus Marks 2 Years Since Hurricane Maria

WASHINGTON — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, released the following statement to mark the two year anniversary of Hurricane Maria striking Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands:

"For the last two years, many families in Puerto Rico have been living without roofs over their heads, access to clean water, roads in their communities, and the basic health infrastructure to keep them healthy. Children waited months for electricity to be restored to their schools. Veterans suffered without the services they depend on to survive. The Trump Administration failed American citizens and an estimated 3,000 people died as a result.

"In the two years since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, our government has not done nearly enough to help the island recover. This Administration refused to deliver on the promised federal aid or deploy the full force of FEMA based on the prejudiced premise that Puerto Ricans do not deserve the full respect of their American citizenship. This anniversary is a reminder to act and fight for equality – we must help the people of Puerto Rico rebuild stronger and be more prepared so that a catastrophe of this scale never happens again."

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.