Warren, Colleagues Challenge Trump’s Call to Cut Federal Aid to Puerto Rico
Lawmakers argue future aid shouldn’t be used for debt repayment
Washington, DC – In the wake of President Trump’s statement calling for “no more Puerto Rico relief funds,” United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) and five additional Members of Congress have written the President condemning his comment, saying pulling federal relief aid would have a “catastrophic effect on the Island’s already fragile recovery.”
In the letter, the lawmakers instead suggest that future legislation should preclude disaster relief funds from being used to pay for Puerto Rico’s debt.
“If President Trump were serious about stopping federal relief aid from going to Wall Street, he’d support my and Representative Velázquez?'s bill to allow Puerto Rico to cancel its debt, or work with Congress to protect federal dollars from vulture funds,” Senator Warren said. “His proposal to cut off aid to the island instead would just worsen his administration’s already catastrophic response to Hurricane Maria.”
“The President’s ultimate responsibility is to keep Americans safe during times of disaster and recovery,” Representative Velázquez said. “Certainly, disaster assistance funds shouldn’t be siphoned off to pay hedge funds and Wall Street creditors. However, the answer isn’t to slash assistance to our fellow citizens who are in desperate need, but rather to provide the necessary aid and ensure that it is walled off from creditors.”
“President Trump and Republicans in Congress turned their backs on the American citizens of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and the island is still suffering from their neglect,” Representative Grijalva said. “We need to hold hearings, address the humanitarian crisis and provide every resource we can to help the island rebuild. Instead the president is threatening to pull the little federal relief the island is getting. Nobody wants to see debt relief funds end up in the hands of Wall Street hedge funds and bondholders, but that’s no reason to end aid entirely. Democrats are pushing for a better way that puts the people of Puerto Rico first.”
The full text of the letter is available here.
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