Grant Immediate Emergency Aid to Puerto Rico & Eliminate Cost-Sharing for FEMA Aid

Grant Immediate Emergency Aid to Puerto Rico & Eliminate Cost-Sharing for FEMA Aid

The Issue

We the people of the Puerto Rican diaspora and other tax-paying citizens of the United States demand that members of Congress provide for the following measures:

1- Provide for a minimum 15 billion dollar package to Puerto Rico, akin to what was granted for Texas and Florida to support state infrastructure and citizens in rebuilding after the catastrophic impact of Harvey and Irma. Senators Nelson and Rubio, Congressman Soto (FL) agree and have also called for the "same level of determination in responding to Hurricane Maria’s impact as the federal government did to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.”

2-Eliminate cost-sharing for FEMA aid. The cost-sharing requirement will make it impossible for the economically bankrupt island to access all of the FEMA resources that will address the damages from Hurricane Maria.

3 - Absolve the debt. Any focus on repaying debt in the face of the immediate rebuilding needs will impede necessary growth and attention to humanitarian needs. In the aftermath of Maria, Puerto Rico's road to recovery has moved from long to never-ending unless debtors and insurers are compelled to absorb losses.

4-An immediate waiver of the Jones Act which requires all shipping between U.S. ports be done by American-built and American -crewed vessels. The Jones Act is logistically limiting the arrival of life saving medicines, food, and water during this crisis.

avatar of the starter
Andrea & Allison Zayas, Irene BaigorriPetition Starter
This petition had 2,678 supporters

The Issue

We the people of the Puerto Rican diaspora and other tax-paying citizens of the United States demand that members of Congress provide for the following measures:

1- Provide for a minimum 15 billion dollar package to Puerto Rico, akin to what was granted for Texas and Florida to support state infrastructure and citizens in rebuilding after the catastrophic impact of Harvey and Irma. Senators Nelson and Rubio, Congressman Soto (FL) agree and have also called for the "same level of determination in responding to Hurricane Maria’s impact as the federal government did to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.”

2-Eliminate cost-sharing for FEMA aid. The cost-sharing requirement will make it impossible for the economically bankrupt island to access all of the FEMA resources that will address the damages from Hurricane Maria.

3 - Absolve the debt. Any focus on repaying debt in the face of the immediate rebuilding needs will impede necessary growth and attention to humanitarian needs. In the aftermath of Maria, Puerto Rico's road to recovery has moved from long to never-ending unless debtors and insurers are compelled to absorb losses.

4-An immediate waiver of the Jones Act which requires all shipping between U.S. ports be done by American-built and American -crewed vessels. The Jones Act is logistically limiting the arrival of life saving medicines, food, and water during this crisis.

avatar of the starter
Andrea & Allison Zayas, Irene BaigorriPetition Starter

The Decision Makers

Members of the 115th United States Congress
Members of the 115th United States Congress

Petition Updates