Representative Hoyer Condemns Federal Disaster Response in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, Cites Report of High Death Toll

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) released a statement on May 29 condemning the inadequate emergency and recovery resources provided to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Maria. The statement comes in response to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that estimated there were 4,645 deaths in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria—a dramatically higher estimate than the Trump administration’s official count of 64 deaths.

“We must do everything we can to help Puerto Ricans and U.S. Virgin Islanders rebuild, just as we assisted Floridians and Texans who were impacted by the storms,” Mr. Hoyer stated. “With the next storm season on our doorstep, we must ensure that all resources are in place to respond to the next disaster appropriately.”

Read Mr. Hoyer’s statement at: https://bit.ly/2LLJAbH