Rep. Watson Coleman on Disaster Relief Efforts for Puerto Rico...

Hi I'm bonnie watson, coleman Congress woman from New Jersey, strap congressional district, contrary to the president's cleans Americans in Puerto Rico and the virgin islands are in the midst of a tremendous humanitarian crisis. Three weeks after hurricane Maria made landfall there are still reports of communities in Puerto Rico and us virgin islands, lacking access to basic necessities and supplies, despite the delayed in adequate federal response from our executive branch, residents of Puerto Rico and the Us virgin island victims of the storms are coming out and clean their own roads to help get the eight that's needed. This is unacceptable. The extent of devastation in the impact on transportation and communication networks caused by these hurricanes or me and Maria is unprecedented requiring local communities to obtain supplies from regional distribution centers have them pose a significant burden at a time When they're already in men, for just ago challenges without the federal government taking immediate steps to do more and to bring more a directly to those affected, many Americans will go without basic necessities for a significant period of time to come. Last week, I wrote a letter to the chairman of the Sea urging him to do more to communicated efforts to restore communications infrastructure on these islands. I also avid here courage, telecommunication companies to provide ongoing information On the status of communication, infrastructure, including the condition of 911 service providers, I've also called upon pima and do the to step up their efforts to save lives in Puerto Rico and the virgin islands. As a member of the House Committee on homeland security and the Committee on oversight and government reform, I have a responsibility to ensure that our existing developed disaster relief protocols are pro Properly implemented, we much is your all relevant federal agencies provide the resources and the flexibility necessary to save American lives in Puerto Rico and the virgin islands. If our federal agencies cannot expedite this aid, then it is up to our military to do so. But to my fellow Americans in Puerto Rico and the virgin islands that burden is not yours to bear it is our responsibility to provide the inefficiency and, in Action that we've seen from this administration cannot continue and I expect the response to my concerns and the concerns of millions affected on this issue