Velazquez, AOC among Dems urging Pelosi not to forget Puerto Rico in coronavirus stimulus package
Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and nine other Democratic members of Congress are urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to "guarantee that Puerto Rico is treated equally to the states in any of the upcoming coronavirus stimulus packages."
Reps. Darren Soto, D-Fla., José Serrano, D-N.Y, Raúl Grijalva, D-N.M., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Albio Sires, D-N.J., Caroline Maloney, D-N.Y., Jesús "Chuy" García, D-Ill., Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., and Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., joined Velázquez and Ocasio-Cortez of New York Monday in sending a letter to House leadership, outlining several of the island's ongoing issues as it responds to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Even before COVID-19, Puerto Rico was suffering immensely from earthquakes earlier this year, longstanding economic and physical damage from Hurricane Maria and decades of economic neglect," Velázquez told NBC News in a statement.
Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez said last week that the U.S. territory received $2.2 billion from the U.S. Treasury Department as part of the coronavirus stimulus package signed into law in March. But the lawmakers argue more needs to be done to ensure the island is equipped to survive the pandemic.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/vel-zquez-aoc-among-dems-urging-pelosi-not-forget-puerto-n119350655