At the end of last week, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., toured Puerto Rico which has has been hit by earthquakes in recent days.
Scott joined Gov. Wanda Vázquez, D-PR, and U.S. Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón, R-PR, on Friday to hear from emergency management officials and community leaders about recovery efforts.
The senator’s office noted that this was the eleventh time Scott has visited Puerto Rico since it was hit by Hurricane Maria. On Friday, Scott weighed in on his efforts.
“As governor, I traveled to Puerto Rico regularly and did everything I could to help the island recover after Hurricane Maria,” Scott said. “As senator, I have vowed to be the voice for Puerto Rico in the Senate, and will continue to fight for our brothers and sisters on the island. I look forward to continuing to work with Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón and Governor Wanda Vazquez to ensure the island has all the resources it needs.”
At the start of last year, after taking his Senate seat, Scott filed an amendment to add $600 million for Puerto Rico to use for disaster recovery.
Scott stressed the ties between the Sunshine State and Puerto Rico. In recent years, the Puerto Rican population in Florida has increased dramatically, especially in the central part of the state. Some recent studies have noted that the Puerto Rican population could overtake the Cuban population in Florida as early as this year.
“The most important thing to every American is action over words,” Scott said in January 2019. “In Florida, we took aggressive action to support Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican community since before Hurricane Maria even made landfall, but our work isn’t done. Puerto Rico’s success is America’s success and Puerto Rico’s recovery is America’s recovery. Today, I’m introducing an amendment to ensure Puerto Rico has the resources they need to continue to rebuild and recover.
“Puerto Rico does not have a voice in the United States Senate,” Scott added. “I intend to be that voice. I’m proud to fight for the people of Puerto Rico and will continue to do everything I can to take action for the Puerto Rican community, both in Florida and on the island.”
González Colón cheered Scott’s commitment to Puerto Rico and praised his record as governor.
“I am thrilled to have a partner in the U.S. Senate that makes Puerto Rico a priority,” she said. “As governor, Senator Scott was there when Puerto Rico needed it most – and he has already proven that he will be a voice for Puerto Rico in the Senate. This funding is so important to help Puerto Rico continue to recover after Hurricane Maria, and I thank Senator Scott for taking quick action to make this happen. I look forward to working closely with Senator Scott to support the Puerto Rican community.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
