Sen. Gillibrand demandS $1b for diSaSter relief

US Senator Gillibrand Demands $1 billion for Hurricane Fiona Recovery

The senator requests immediate nutrition aid for the island

Zoe Landi Fontana, The Weekly Journal

US Senator Kristen Gillibrand has called for federal economic relief for Puerto Rico as well as $1 billion in nutritional aid. Additionally, she is asking the Biden administration to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief for other Caribbean nations impacted by Hurricane Fiona, including the Dominican Republic.

“Over the past few years, Puerto Rico has faced crisis after crisis. In 2017, Hurricane Maria killed thousands of people and flattened entire neighborhoods. Supply chain disruptions from COVID and rising prices have left too many Puerto Ricans without enough to eat. And now, even before the island had a chance to recover from the last hurricane, Puerto

Rico is again facing devastating flooding and crippling damage to its critical infrastructure,” said Senator Gillibrand.

The letter urges Congress to support the island with $1 billion in Nutrition Assistance Program funding which would help Puerto Ricans struggling because of high food costs and supply issues. It also requests Congress pass emergency supplemental funding, including no less than $2.9 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund. Lastly, it would pass the Continuing Resolution with an anomaly for Puerto Rico which would also contribute to the island’s recovery and building resilience for the future. The senator was joined by U.S. Representatives Nydia Velázquez and Gregory Meeks, as well as Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of the Hispanic Federation, who mentioned Puerto Rico’s exclusion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other federal programs like the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Puerto Rico has been excluded from the SNAP program for over 40 years, after it was legislated into a capped federal block grant in 1981. Since then, the island has experienced chronic underfunding to fight food insecurity.

Senator Gillibrand’s call to action also mentioned the delays in distributing funding allocated after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. In 2017,

In fact,

following the two hurricanes, Disaster Relief Act funds meant to fund disaster nutrition assistance Puerto Rico has been became available in March 2018, six months after excluded from the they were initially requested. SNAP program for Citing the Stafford Act, which required Federal over 40 years, after it agencies to alleviate the suffering and damages was legislated into a caused by disasters through encouraging the capped federal block development of disaster preparedness and grant in 1981. assistance programs, Senator Gillibrand’s letter to the US Senate expressed concern that Puerto Rico would get too little, too late. “I’m urging Congress and the Biden administration to provide both immediate humanitarian relief and funding for long-term investments in the resiliency of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid and other key infrastructure. This is an emergency and we must act now to help Puerto Ricans begin the long road to recovery,” Senator Gillibrand underscored.

… even before the island had a chance to recover from the last hurricane, Puerto Rico is again facing devastating flooding and crippling damage to its critical infrastructure.

Kristen Gillibrand, US Senator