Following mass destruction from Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico is on the path back to a full recovery.
On Friday, it was announced that President Trump signed a $90 billion disaster recovery package for all U.S. states and territories affected by 2017 natural disasters. The package, which was recently passed by Congress, includes a tremendous amount of aid specifically allocated for Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico Gets A Combined $16 Billion In Federal Aid
According to Reuters, Puerto Rico will be receiving over $16 billion in federal aid. $11 billion of that will come from CDBG, which is a program run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and will help repair and build new homes and business. Reuters’ report says:
That money includes nearly $7 billion announced on Wednesday and will help the bankrupt U.S. territory recover from September’s Hurricane Maria, according to a statement on Friday from Governor Ricardo Rossello and Jenniffer Gonzalez, Puerto Rico’s nonvoting member of the U.S. Congress.
Rossello said on Wednesday that Puerto Rico would get $4.9 billion to shore up its near-insolvent Medicaid system and another $2 billion or so under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to repair its destroyed electric grid.
Congress could always increase the amount Puerto Rico gets if need be.
Governor Rosello said of the tremendous package Puerto Rico is set to receive:
”The work carried out in Washington – together with resident commissioner Jenniffer González – was able to deliver the message of the urgency of an allocation of funds that meets the needs of the Island.”
This all comes after Trump faced mounting criticism from the left and media regarding his handling of Puerto Rico after the hurricane ripped through the region.
President Trump did all in his power at the time to make sure the territory was in good hands. The media, however, focused on San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz’s remarks that the President wasn’t doing enough, despite being pictured in front of a stockpile of relief while complaining about the President’s efforts. Here is the famous picture:
Carmen Yulin Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto, criticizing the President after he sent all of the aid seen behind her. Photo Courtesy of NBC News
Now that Puerto Rico is about to get $16 billion dollars in relief and potentially more as a result of the President’s signature, you can hear nothing but crickets from the media and the left on Trump’s gracious effort.
What do you think about the massive disaster relief package Puerto Rico and others will be receiving? Scroll down below and drop a comment!
What about the Virgin Islands? St. Thomas?