In the News

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, praised the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to damage caused by Hurricanes Maria and Irma in Puerto Rico Saturday, despite offering that initial efforts could have been more efficient.

Neal, who toured the island with several other members of the state's congressional delegation Friday, told reporters that although Puerto Rico still faces challenges when it comes to restoring electricity, he was "very impressed" with FEMA's work and volunteers' response efforts.

"One of the things I was struck by was ... all the kinds of good works by ordinary people that were volunteering across the island, making sure that people had food," he said. "And also, the role that government has in helping to get food to people and making sure that they have health care. The other thing is, making sure that they have shelter."

The congressman met with federal responders and surveyed the island's damage via helicopter as part of the delegation's trip.

He noted that nearly 3,000 FEMA employees are currently on the ground in Puerto Rico, and that the agency has served at least 55 million meals and provided 61 million liters of water as part of its work on the island.

Several volunteers have also flocked to Puerto Rico to help in the island's recovery, including members of the Massachusetts State Police, who also met with the state's congressional delegation during the trip.

Despite praising FEMA's work, Neal acknowledged that the federal government's initial response to the hurricanes' damage in Puerto Rico could have been better managed. 

"Obviously everyone thinks there could've been greater efficiencies applied here," he said.

The Trump administration has come under fire from some over its efforts to restore power on the island.

The congressman would not specifically comment on whether he believed the federal government's response to the island would have been different if Puerto Rico were allowed to vote on Capitol Hill, noting tax and other issues that complicate its status.

He added that most have suggested "it's up to the people of the island to determine ... how they want to be part of (the United States.)"

Puerto Rico overwhelmingly voted for statehood in a June 2017 nonbinding referendum, the Associated Press reported. Congress, however, must approve any changes to its political status.

Although Puerto Rico may only be a U.S. territory, Neal stressed that it "is still a very important part of America."

"I think when natural disaster occurs, it's a reflection of what we call the national principle, and the national principle says that, if there's an earthquake in California, we all come to their aid," he said. "If there are forest fires or fires across Alabama, we come to their aid, and if there's a hurricane of this magnitude in Puerto Rico, we come to their aid."

The congressman said he expects Congress to include more disaster relief funding for Puerto Rico in its upcoming spending bill.

Neal said he's unsure of how much money could ultimately end up in that legislaiton, which Congress must pass by Jan. 19 or face a government shutdown.

He, however, offered that additional disaster relief dollars could help Puerto Rico speed up efforts to fully restore electricity on the island. 

Currently -- more than 100 days since the hurricanes -- only 60 percent of power has been restored on the island and just 10 percent of Puerto Rico's power grid is operational, Neal noted.

Officials predict that power on the island won't be totally restored until at least March -- something which the congressman said represents a large challenge in Puerto Rico's recovery. 

"The biggest hurdle from here is getting that grid up and running," he said. "For all of us who have ever had lights out temporarily and flipped the light switch only to find the lights didn't come back on, it can be pretty harrowing. I think we're all startled when that happens. Just think that it's been 114 days and for 40 percent of the people on that island, they still can't turn on their lights."

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's, D-Massachusetts, office organized the trip to Puerto Rico. Eight of the state's 11 members of Congress traveled to the island.

Neal said he wanted to travel to Puerto Rico earlier, particularly given Western Massachusetts' ties to the island and the number of individuals who have come to the state in wake of hurricanes.

Nearly four months after Hurricane Maria, Springfield leads the state in the number of Puerto Rican evacuee schoolchildren with 590. Worcester, meanwhile, had more than 300 students enrolled and Holyoke had 170 students enrolled as of the first week in January, officials said.