Pelosi Statement on One Year Since Hurricane Maria

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Henry Connelly, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement marking one year since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands:

"A full year after Hurricane Maria wreaked unprecedented devastation and suffering in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, our fellow Americans are still struggling to heal, rebuild and recover.

"It is unconscionable and unacceptable that President Trump continues to show a stunningly callous and cruel attitude toward the survivors and victims, refusing to even acknowledge the staggering level of heartbreak, devastation and death caused by these hurricanes and his Administration's inadequate response. Instead of holding this President accountable, Speaker Ryan and the House GOP have shrugged away their responsibilities to avert or investigate this failed response. The President and Republican Congress should remember their moral and constitutional responsibility to protect the American people, provide every resource needed to recover and prevent this inadequate response from ever happening again.

"The heartbreak that has followed in the wake of Hurricane Florence should serve as a clarion wake-up call for Congress to act swiftly and prayerfully to ensure that every family affected by hurricanes has the support and resources they need now and throughout the long road to recovery. We have a moral obligation to do better – not only to finish the job in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but to prevent the same type of inadequate response from happening ever again."

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