April Thomas, 206.321.3850, april.thomas@sierraclub.org
Washington, D.C., -- Today, POLITICO reported that the Department of Housing and Urban Development will lift the illegal hold on $8.2 billion in disaster mitigation funds for Puerto Rico, already approved by Congress and dating back to Hurricane Maria in 2017. This move comes in response to heavy pressure from members of Congress to release the funds, now over two years overdue.
The White House has not, however, responded to requests from the Governor of Puerto Rico for FEMA’s comprehensive disaster assistance.
In response, Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune issued the following statement:
“Donald Trump has illegally withheld $8.2 billion in funding authorized by Congress for the people of Puerto Rico for no acceptable or understandable reason for far too long. Only now has he finally relinquished it, at a time when he should instead be going much further and responding to the current state of emergency on the island. It is a sad state of affairs when the state of New York is trying to do more to support the people of Puerto Rico throughout this disaster than the President.
“This is shameful abandonment of the people of Puerto Rico and it is costing lives. Sierra Club stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Puerto Rico against the callousness of the Trump administration. Trump must act immediately to approve the governor’s request for FEMA’s comprehensive disaster assistance, and to release the billions of dollars in community block grant funds that the White House continues to illegally withhold.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.