Hoyer Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Maria Making Landfall
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
September 20, 2018
Contact Info:
Annaliese Davis 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today marking the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria making landfall:
“With nearly 3,000 confirmed American fatalities and tens of billions of dollars in damage to property, Hurricane Maria was one of the most destructive storms in our nation’s history. Maria was the worst in a series of deadly hurricanes that struck last year, wreaking havoc on the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast states. Compounding the tragedy of Maria and other 2017 storms was the botched federal response by the Trump Administration, which was slow to deploy resources and then tried to hide from the public the full extent of the devastation.
“Today, many still struggle with providing their families with the basic necessities, such as access to clean water, reliable power, or a roof over their heads. While the White House has said that President Trump ‘remains proud of all the work’ his Administration undertook in response to the storms, it is clear the billions of dollars Congress has appropriated to help communities rebuild is not getting to those most in need. When I visited the impacted areas last October, I saw little to be proud of – other than the resilience of the local communities in facing a terrible disaster and doing so effectively alone. Congress and the Administration have a responsibility to those still trying to recover, even a year later, and ought to do everything possible to provide them with assistance.”
“With nearly 3,000 confirmed American fatalities and tens of billions of dollars in damage to property, Hurricane Maria was one of the most destructive storms in our nation’s history. Maria was the worst in a series of deadly hurricanes that struck last year, wreaking havoc on the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast states. Compounding the tragedy of Maria and other 2017 storms was the botched federal response by the Trump Administration, which was slow to deploy resources and then tried to hide from the public the full extent of the devastation.
“Today, many still struggle with providing their families with the basic necessities, such as access to clean water, reliable power, or a roof over their heads. While the White House has said that President Trump ‘remains proud of all the work’ his Administration undertook in response to the storms, it is clear the billions of dollars Congress has appropriated to help communities rebuild is not getting to those most in need. When I visited the impacted areas last October, I saw little to be proud of – other than the resilience of the local communities in facing a terrible disaster and doing so effectively alone. Congress and the Administration have a responsibility to those still trying to recover, even a year later, and ought to do everything possible to provide them with assistance.”