NY Daily News reports that the U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat said he’ll push for Congress to sign off this week on $20 billion in emergency aid for Puerto Rico.
Espaillat (D-Manhattan), who traveled to the hurricane-hit island this weekend, joined City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and other pols in East Harlem Monday to criticize the federal response to the disaster so far.
“It can’t wait another week. It has to be this week,” said Espaillat, adding that the final bill is likely to reach $85 billion.
Espaillat also called for Congressional hearings on the federal response.
Mark-Viverito said humanitarian crisis after Hurricane Maria is getting worse.
“This is a grave injustice that is happening in Puerto Rico,” she said, estimating fewer than 15,000 emergency personnel were on the ground in Puerto Rico, compared to 30,000 in Texas and 40,000 in Florida after recent hurricanes there.
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