Restore Puerto Rico

Almost three thousand Puerto Ricans lost their lives when Hurricanes Irma (Category 5) and Maria (Category 4) devastated the beautiful island in September 2017. The soul of our nation lies in how we treat our friends and neighbors in times of need, and the recovery efforts in the American commonwealth have been slow and needlessly painful. We can do better.  

Storm damage from Maria included the loss of 80% of the island’s utility poles and nearly all its transmission lines, leading to widespread power outages for the island’s 3.4 million residents. Federal officials have estimated damage to exceed $90 billion.

Despite federal assistance led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), recovery has been slow because of old infrastructure, mounting island debt, corruption, and recurring economic crises. Some residents remain without regular electricity and water to this day. 

I have not forgotten this enchanting place I called home in the late 1960s when my mother was stationed at Ramey Air Force Base on the northwestern corner of the island. The work toward rebuilding this Commonwealth Island must continue, and the United States must do more to help.

To help Puerto Rico rebuild more effectively after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Congress should take several actions:

• Continue Making Significant Investments in Infrastructure: This includes prioritizing remaining reconstruction and ultimate modernization of critical infrastructure such as the island’s electrical grid, water systems, roads, and bridges. The focus should be building resilient and sustainable infrastructure to withstand future natural disasters.

• Debt Relief and Economic Support: Providing greater debt relief and restructuring to ease Puerto Rico’s financial burdens should be a priority. Offering economic support through tax incentives and grants, collaborating in public-private-philanthropic partnerships, and creating programs to stimulate local businesses, attract investment, and create jobs would be immensely helpful.

• Allocate More Adequate Funding: Congress should allocate sufficient financial resources for immediate relief and long-term rebuilding efforts. We should ensure that we do the same anywhere required in the United States and our territories when natural disasters occur. This includes funds for infrastructure repair, housing reconstruction, healthcare facilities, economic revitalization, and more.

• Healthcare and Social Services: Increased funding and support for healthcare services to address the hurricanes' immediate needs and long-term health impacts are still required. The 2017 impact of these two massive storms has not been wholly addressed nor forgotten by island residents. We must continue to work to enhance the island’s social services, including mental health services, to support its still vulnerable populations.

• Environmental Restoration: Investments are still needed for environmental restoration projects to address the damage to Puerto Rico’s natural resources and ecosystems. We should see more excellent implementation policies and practices that can and will promote sustainable development and protect the island’s environment.

• Education and Workforce Development: Supporting the education system and workforce development programs to build local capacity and skills necessary for rebuilding and future economic growth is without question and should continue to be a high federal and regional priority.

• Legislative Reforms: Congress must work together with Puerto Rican elected and appointed officials to enact appropriate legislative reforms to address long-standing issues such as the Jones Act, which impacts shipping costs and logistics. Congress should consider granting Puerto Rico more autonomy in managing its affairs and resources.

To help ensure that Puerto Rico does not suffer from inevitable future catastrophes alone, I would also suggest that we together focus on:

• Growing Community Involvement and Promoting More Transparency: Ensuring that the rebuilding process is inclusive and transparent is critically important. By involving local communities, leaders, and organizations in planning and decision-making we can together help address the specific needs and priorities of Puerto Rico’s affected population.

• Disaster Preparedness and Resilience: Congress should continue to invest in and promote disaster preparedness and resilience programs to prepare Puerto Rico for future natural disasters. This includes developing early warning systems, emergency response plans, and community education programs.

• Streamlining Aid Distribution: To avoid bureaucratic delays, we must help simplify and speed up the distribution of federal aid. This could involve reducing red tape and improving coordination among federal, state, and local agencies.

By taking these comprehensive and sustained actions, Congress can significantly aid Puerto Rico in recovering from Hurricane Maria and building a stronger, more resilient future. Congress might also use a successful recovery effort - no matter how delayed in this case - as a model for helping other American communities in the decades ahead.