Two years after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and left thousands dead and displaced, the Trump Administration is still blocking the release of federal aid to the island.

President Trump and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson are stalling the release of $18 billion authorized by Congress for Puerto Rico. This funding is being illegally withheld and Democratic Members of Congress are threatening to sue or defund a portion of HUD.

Trump’s ongoing anti-Puerto Rico agenda– to deny 3.2 million Puerto Ricans funding—is based on racial and ethnic prejudice, petty politics, and a calculated agenda to beat down the island’s economy and people so banking and big real estate & development cronies can cash in.

Though the administration has promised to release $8 billion in funds, Puerto Ricans still have not seen these funds disbursed and are demanding all Congressionally-approved funds are expeditiously released.

The withholding of funds is setting up Puerto Rico for FAILURE in the reconstruction work and putting people in IMMINENT DANGER, as a slew of reports have shown that the island remains at great risk of natural and man-made disasters. The 2020 Global Climate Risk Index ranked Puerto Rico, along with Myanmar and Haiti, at the top of places most vulnerable to extreme weather events. And as recently reported by Dig Deep and the U.S. Water Alliance, unsafe drinking water in Puerto Rico is a “ticking time bomb” for public health.

Sign the petition to ensure Puerto Ricans receive promised federal aid to support critical reconstruction projects, such as repairing tens of thousands of homes and communities affected by the hurricanes, mitigating risks of flooding and landslides, and rebuilding the electrical grid.

Participating Organizations:
Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund
Daily Kos
Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition
Progress America
198 methods