Hoyer Remarks at a Press Conference with House Democrats to Call for Immediate Assistance for U.S. Citizens in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined House Democrats at a press conference, led by Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, in calling for swift legislative action to assist Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricane Maria. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
“I want to thank Nydia Velázquez, Jose Serrano, and my good friend Luis Gutiérrez, all who have a very, very personal relationship, but all of us have a responsibility and a relationship to our fellow Americans. Whether they live in Puerto Rico or they live in the Virgin Islands, 3.6 million of our fellow citizens are at risk as we speak here on this platform. Dire risk. A humanitarian crisis exists.
“Many Americans are still trying to get in contact, as the Leader has said, and others have said, to get in contact with their relatives and friends who are stranded and cannot get to the help that they need. Communications have been cut off. Power is out and will be out for months, perhaps longer in some places. Food, water, fuel, and medical services are becoming more and more scare. Hospitals are running low on supplies and medications, and they are limited in their ability to care for people without power.
“I talked to Secretary Price early this morning about the availability of dialysis, we have had people who need dialysis who have been without it for nine days, they are at risk and some have already died.
"This is a humanitarian crisis and demands the speediest, most robust reaction and action that we can take. I am pleased that we can now have a military coordinator, that’s what happened in Katrina. In New Orleans, General Honore was appointed. Now we have General Kim. And that needs to proceed with all dispatch.
“We have urged President Trump to muster every available federal resource, every available federal resource, which, as he points out, is unmatched anywhere in the world. If we want to do it, we can do it.
“You had a picture on the front page of the Washington Post of people wading through deep, muddy, probably polluted water to get to help, to get to food, to get to water. Frankly, the Corps of Engineers could build a pontoon bridge in a very short period of time.
"Given the humanitarian crisis now unfolding and the complexity of the challenges on the ground, a more robust federal response is required.
“I’m glad the Comfort, the ship Comfort, the hospital ship is on its way to Puerto Rico and to the Virgin Islands. It should have been sent the day after the hurricane hit.
"Governor Rosselló has requested additional help from the Defense Department, I support him in that request. I hope the Administration - and will urge the Administration - and talking to Secretary Price today, urged him to meet that request.
“Representative Velazquez wrote a letter to the President requesting the appointment of a senior general, that’s been done. Thank you Nydia for leading that effort. Thank you Luis Gutierrez, Jose Serrano, and the Caucus for leading those efforts.
“We’re calling on Speaker Ryan as you have heard to bring to the Floor legislation that would provide emergency funding and enact other policies that will help those effected. I’m going to be talking about that in just a few minutes with the Majority Leader on the House Floor of the House of Representatives.
"I know he is - he talked to me about going down there, I think he’s planning on going down there, that’s appropriate to do, but we need to get legislation right here on the Floor making sure the resources, the personnel, the medical help is available.
"We need to work together to help our fellow citizens. Our fellow Americans who live in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. They’re as much American as Maryland, as Texas, as Florida. And we need to treat them the same. We need to work together to help our fellow citizens and we must act quickly.
“I am pleased to see the accelerated effort. It’s never too late to do the right thing, but those folks on dialysis, they can’t wait another minute to save their lives, and there are other stories just like that."