Disaster Recovery

Plaskett Introduces Bill With Aim to Improve Resiliency as Territory Rebuilds

Delegate to Congress Stacey E. Plaskett recently introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would allow the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico access to federal money to rebuild additional infrastructure that is more “resilient” than before the devastating 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria. Ms. Plaskett has released the following statement regarding the legislation, H.R. 5756, or the Resiliency Enhancement Act of 2020:  “In the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, there was a recognition from Congress as to the sweeping destruction inflicted on the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017,” Ms. Plaskett said. “FEMA was given flexibility to make repairs and replace infrastructure on the islands to incorporate resilient design and features, regardless of pre-disaster condition (the standard that normally applies).  However, eligibility was limited to infrastructure providing critical services – schools, hospitals, utilities, etc.”  Under the bill, assist...