Calls Trump administration disaster response effort in Puerto Rico shameful and urges ramp up of immediate relief efforts across federal agencies

Boston (September 30, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement today after President Donald Trump this morning tweeted about Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico: “poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help.”

“The first thing President Trump should do on Tuesday when he visits Puerto Rico for the first time since Hurricane Maria devastated the island is apologize to Mayor Cruz," said Senator Markey.

“Puerto Ricans are Americans, and we have a moral obligation to provide relief to the island now. President Trump should issue a full Disaster Declaration for the entire island of Puerto Rico. We must appoint an administration official immediately to coordinate federal efforts for Puerto Rico disaster relief across all departments and agencies. Also, additional funding should be made available now to assist Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program. We need to deploy experts from the Department of Energy to begin to restore power to the island, as well as deploy Department of Defense assets, including construction battalions to repair power and transportation infrastructure and restore communications, command and control aircraft for air traffic control, and servicemembers to provide disaster and humanitarian assistance.”

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