DeLauro Votes for Puerto Rico Disaster Relief Funding, Including Securing Amendment Increasing Nutrition Assistance
WASHINGTON, D.C. — (February 7, 2020) Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) voted for and spoke on the House Floor in support of an emergency supplemental funding bill for Puerto Rico. The bill provides $4.89 billion in funding for educational needs, transportation and infrastructure repairs, and disaster relief activities. It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 237-161. DeLauro also co-led an amendment increasing nutrition assistance by $170 million for a total of $210 million, which was adopted.
Links to full videos of each of DeLauro's speeches can be found below, along with her remarks as delivered:
Disaster Assistance Funding Bill
I rise to speak in support of the supplemental bill for Puerto Rico.
The Island has been rocked by earthquakes and tremors. Thousands of Americans left without water or power, facing catastrophic property damage. In my district, I met with affected families and community members. We discussed the ongoing disaster and the response and recovery needs. I have staff, people who have family in Puerto Rico who are sleeping outdoors for fear of going back into a home which is badly damaged.
There should be no question about providing the resources necessary to recover. This supplemental package provides $4.67 billion dollars; educational needs, transportation infrastructure repairs, disaster relief activities. $100 million dollars for education. K-12 programs, helps schools restart operations, support re-enrollment; pay for the costs of providing education to students who are displaced by natural disasters; and yes, it addresses the mental health needs of children, as they have experienced a traumatic event. Higher education: the funding helps defray the unexpected costs associated with enrolling displaced students and with rebuilding damaged facilities.
It also extends the Child Tax Credit to all children in Puerto Rico and the U.S. territories. Under the current system, Puerto Rican families are only eligible for the Child Tax Credit for the third or subsequent child. What we need to do is to expand and improve the Child Tax Credit, make it fully refundable, but this is a necessary step in the meantime so that U.S. citizens, U.S. citizens, in the territories are treated exactly like those in the states.
Let me just also assure, on the final note, my colleagues that we are working with the administration to determine the costs of our ongoing response to the 2019 novel Coronavirus. We have urged the administration to work with the Congress on the bipartisan basis to enact an emergency supplemental for that public health emergency. And we stand ready to move forward quickly to protect public health and safety.
But, on this supplemental for Puerto Rico, let me urge my colleagues to vote yes, vote yes for Americans who are in dire straits on that island. And it is unconscionable that we have second thoughts about the kind of support that they need during this crisis. I urge the Senate, urge the President to add their support swiftly. Our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico cannot afford for us to delay any longer.
Long-term Effects on Children Amendment
I rise in support of this amendment. It is $1 million dollars. It provides funds for a study on the impacts of natural disasters on the well-being and educational paths of affected students, children in Puerto Rico.
The children in Puerto Rico have been struggling from the trauma of multiple natural disasters. It's been resulting unbelievable disruptions to their lives at home and at school.
After Hurricane Maria, Congresswoman Grace Meng and I went to Puerto Rico. We visited the schools and the teachers told us that the children were not coming to school, why? We asked the question why. They were scared that if they went to school and they returned home they would not find their families, their homes or anything else that gave them the strength and the hope with their families so they weren't going. And they also couldn't go because the power was out and the heat was too much for them to be there. What is it that you can't understand? What is it this administration doesn't understand about what is happening to children, American children in Puerto Rico.
We included $3 million in the 2019 Labor-HHS appropriations bill to provide behavioral health services and counseling to children in Puerto Rico. These services are being provided through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, which is a national network of grantees that provide services for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events.
Schools are the center of our communities, they offer students stable schedules, warm meals, support from teachers and school professionals. They are the center of learning. We need to act with urgency, support school recovery, restore the stability for the children in Puerto Rico, take a careful look at the longer-term impacts of these disasters on student well-being and educational access and success.
This amendment provides those resources. Support it. I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Nutrition Assistance Funding Amendment
May I just say I look forward to the day when my colleague González-Colón of Puerto Rico, can vote in the House of Representatives. I also want to add one thing, our colleagues from South Carolina said earlier that folks in Puerto Rico do not pay taxes. They pay payroll taxes. We all understand payroll taxes. And quite frankly that's the basis on which the Child Tax Credit is determined. So, they are paying taxes. But, I rise in support of this amendment. I'm honored to co-lead with my colleague Jenniffer González-Colón, with Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Congressman Serrano and Soto.
It increases funding for Puerto Rico's Nutrition Assistance Program, $210 million dollars.
The $40 million in the underlying bill provides a strong foundation on which to build. And in light of a new analysis from leading nutrition experts, which has shown how great the need is, the amendment increases the resources to what the experts are now calling for. Thousands have been left without food, water or power. We cannot turn our backs on the people of Puerto Rico. We need to meet basic needs so that they can rebuild. It is not only a responsibility but, it is a moral responsibility.
And why is this necessary? Because Puerto Rico receives a block grant for nutrition assistance, it's known as the Nutrition Assistance Program or NAP. Because the value of a block grant is fixed, their nutrition assistance is unable to meet the heightened needs of children and families in times of disaster. This is fundamentally different from how food stamps work for the millions of other Americans elsewhere in our country. But we know where this administration falls on the food stamp program. They're willing to deny three million access to food stamps, take two million kids off a school lunch program.
Folks here are in need, but the people in Puerto Rico, the children in Puerto Rico are in need. Island ravaged by earthquakes and tremors. Wednesday saw a 5.0 magnitude earthquake.
In her request to the Congress, Puerto Rico's governor warned, and I quote, "Puerto Ricans are currently suffering economic and job loss, displacement, and interruption of essential services…[and]…thousands of refugees currently located in camps are children and the elderly."
We offer a bipartisan amendment today to build on the underlying bill. I commend the committee chair, Congresswoman Lowey, the subcommittee chair, Congressman Bishop, for their hard work on this fast-moving matter. To my colleagues, have a sense of what food means to people. We live in a land of plenty. We should not be about the business of denying food and nutrition help to others, and especially American children and American families from Puerto Rico. The nutrition assistance, the food that they need in order to survive. No one should go to bed hungry in this country or in those countries where we have American citizens. And that's Puerto Rico. I urge my colleagues please, please deal with what our moral responsibility is in this body. We have the power to make this happen. Let's make it happen today.
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