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DeLauro Statement on Trump Administration’s Insufficient Disaster Relief Package

November 17, 2017

Washington, D.C. (November 17, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement in response to the Trump administration's latest disaster relief request.

"President Trump's latest disaster relief request does not begin to approach what is needed to make the residents of Puerto Rico, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, and California whole. Our fellow Americans have endured historic natural disasters over the past few months, and we must get them the help they desperately need. Millions of people are suffering without power, water, shelter, or access to medicine, yet President Trump's insufficient proposal would be offset by slashing funding for critical programs. These programs keep Americans from going hungry or falling into poverty, as well as invest in our children's future by giving students of modest means the financial assistance they need to get through college. That is beyond cruel."

"This request fails to include any funding for Head Start, Early Head Start, or the Social Services Block Grant—flexible funding that can be used to assist vulnerable populations like children with mental health and other services. We also know that hundreds of Head Start facilities have been damaged, impacting tens of thousands of infants and toddlers, yet the request provides no relief. That is not good enough, and we must fix it."

"I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to craft a disaster relief package that takes care of our fellow Americans in their time of need."