Senator Blumenthal Calls Federal Disaster Response in Puerto Rico a ‘Shameful Disgrace’

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on January 8 called on FEMA to extend the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program in Puerto Rico through the end of the 2018 school year. He also called for FEMA and HUD to begin to work together to provide longer-term housing solutions, including tapping into existing networks of local housing authorities to provide rental assistance and case management services. “I saw firsthand during my visit last week the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico, where much of the island still lacks power and clean water,” said Mr. Blumenthal, “and the federal response has been a shameful disgrace.” In October, Senators Blumenthal and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) wrote to FEMA to urge the agency to enter into an interagency agreement with HUD to allow displaced families in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida and the Virgin Islands to access housing assistance. FEMA has yet to respond.