Congress Passes Overdue, Bipartisan Disaster Relief Bill

NEWS RELEASE(WASHINGTON, DC – June 3, 2019) Today the United States House of Representatives passed a bipartisan compromise that provides much needed disaster relief for Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. It also provides funds for farmers in the Midwest suffering from this spring's extreme floods, for military bases that were damaged by storms, and relief to residents of North Carolina and Florida still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricanes Michael, and to victims of other recent extreme weather events. The measure now moves to President Trump's desk for a signature.

"This aid package is a step in the right direction and shows Congress' resolve to provide Puerto Rico with the funds it urgently needs to rebuild resiliently. While more needs to be done for the island's communities and families as they get back on their feet, the opportunity to build on this momentum is clear: we must create a pathway based on renewable energy as a pillar for Puerto Rico to grow and thrive long into the future."·

• Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund