Reps. Espaillat, García, and Velázquez Reintroduce Bill to Create Local Accountability in the Puerto Rican Recovery Process.
In the aftermath of another hurricane, the Puerto Rican people need to continue having a voice in the Reconstruction Process. WASHINGTON, DC –Today Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) reintroduced the Community Driven Recovery for Puerto Rico Act, to ensure Puerto Ricans have a voice and a seat at the table in the decisions about recovery efforts in the aftermath of yet another natural disaster.
This legislation would:
Strengthen transparency and local oversight of recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and facilitate local participation in contracting and decision making. It establishes a 13-member Civil Society Task Force elected from different sectors of Puerto Rican society, including local government, communities, foundations, business, labor and higher education. Appoints a representative from the Civil Society Task Force within each recovery agency, including FEMA, HUD, the Puerto Rican Central Recovery and Reconstruction Office and the Puerto Rican Housing Department, to oversee agency work and promote equity and inclusion.
“I recently returned from a 4-day visit to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to assess the devastation following Hurricane Fiona and saw firsthand the damage that ravaged the region,” said Congressman Espaillat. “We understand more than ever that our response must be swift and quick to aid residents in need, and critical to local community relief efforts. The Community Driven Recovery for Puerto Rico Act ensures that local communities have input, equity, and elevated transparency when it comes to the implementation of federal disaster relief programs. Ensuring local engagement at the decision-making table when addressing federal disaster relief ensures affected communities have a voice and are no longer excluded on the decisions that impact them directly.”
“It is inconceivable that five years after Hurricane Maria our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters were still living under blue tarps. Now with the damage caused by Fiona, hundreds of thousands have lost their homes and still have no power or access to clean water,” said Congressman García. “Puerto Ricans know best what Puerto Rico needs. These are American citizens who need a voice in the reconstruction process of their own communities. The strongest federal relief effort will be one in which Puerto Ricans are empowered and included at every step of the process.
“As Puerto Rico faces yet another long path towards recovery from Hurricane Fiona just five years after Maria devastated the island, we are reintroducing a bill that will make sure Puerto Ricans and community-based organizations have a seat at the table in the recovery process,” said Velázquez. “There are countless groups and leaders on the ground that have built trust and longstanding relationships with local communities, and they deserve to be a part of the rebuilding process every step of the way.”
This legislation is supported by Oxfam America, Puerto Rican Cultural Center and the University of Puerto Rico Resiliency Law Center.
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