Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Today, the Associated Press reported that FEMA awarded an unproven, brand new company, Bronze Star LLC, a $30 million contract to provide emergency tarps and plastic sheeting for Puerto Ricans recovering from Hurricane Maria. These supplies never arrived, but FEMA failed to cancel the contract for four weeks, abandoning Puerto Ricans in the process.
Yesterday, Puerto Rico handed FEMA the power to approve the use of any hurricane aid.
This debacle echoes the Whitefish Energy scandal, where we still do not yet know how a two year old company with deep ties to Ryan Zinke and donors to Donald Trump and Rick Perry received a sweetheart $300 million contract. Last week, it was revealed that Whitefish Energy stopped work in Puerto Rico to “gain leverage” to force payments.
It has been more than two months since Maria struck Puerto Rico, yet more than 50% of the island remains without power and at least 10% still do not have access to safe drinking water.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Either Donald Trump and his administration are unable to fulfill their responsibilities to American citizens or they simply do not care about Puerto Ricans who continue to suffer more than two months after Hurricane Maria struck. Hurricane-affected communities across the country remain in need, but the only aid package this administration can propose is not only woefully inadequate, it sought to tear Americans further apart by attempting to force his racist agenda. Rather than picking fights on Twitter, Trump should be picking up Americans whose lives and communities have been devastated under his watch. He can start by ensuring Puerto Ricans can turn the lights back on and have safe water to drink.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.