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U.S. Congress Fighting Over Further Disaster Relief Funding For Puerto Rico
Published: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 - 12:07pm
Updated: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 - 8:45am
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Jetta Disco/U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Officials deliver food and water to residents in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 12, 2017, Hurricane Maria.
There’s a battle in Congress over disaster relief funding. The Republican-backed bill was blocked by Democrats in the Senate on Monday. The sticking point: Puerto Rico.
In 2017, the island was devastated by Hurricane Maria, and this new bill would’ve reduced aid to the island. Opponents say funding for the island has always been slow and more is still needed. President Trump tweeted that night, writing that the aid already sent to Puerto Rico has been, “wasted.”
The Show spoke with Andrew Schrank, a Brown University professor and a member of the CNE Growth Commission — the only independent think tank on Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico got 91 Billion Dollars for the hurricane, more money than has ever been gotten for a hurricane before, & all their local politicians do is complain & ask for more money. The pols are grossly incompetent, spend the money foolishly or corruptly, & only take from USA....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2019
....The best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico is President Donald J. Trump. So many wonderful people, but with such bad Island leadership and with so much money wasted. Cannot continue to hurt our Farmers and States with these massive payments, and so little appreciation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2019
