What We Need to Do to Help Puerto Rico Right Now

The devastation of Hurricane Maria has left millions of people in Puerto Rico without power, safe drinking water, or the ability to contact their loved ones. Food and fuel are scarce, and the island is facing a very long road to recovery.

Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans call Connecticut home and the community in our state has mobilized in a big way to help. But our state cannot do it alone — Washington needs to step up to the plate.

This morning, as I often do, I took to Twitter to outline just a few actions that Congress and President Trump can take immediately to help the millions of American citizens who are suffering in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

For far too long Washington has denied the American citizens of Puerto Rico vital human services and adequate health care funding. There’s no doubt in my mind that our negligence made the devastation in Puerto Rico even worse.

I’m going to fight on the floor of the Senate and in the Appropriations Committee to make sure that people in Puerto Rico get the assistance they desperately need and deserve as quickly as possible.