Demand Federal Emergency Aid for Puerto Rico's Water Crisis

Puerto Rico is in a water emergency, and a decisive response from Trump and FEMA has not been forthcoming. Over 3 million U.S. citizens are living through 48-hour water shutoffs, historic drought, and crumbling infrastructure. July was San Juan's driest month in over 120 years. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows 68 percent of the island in drought. Hospitals are running on tanker trucks. Families are spending hours in line just to buy water. While sustainable solutions to this crisis are multifactorial, the federal government must provide immediate aid to a U.S. territory and to U.S. citizens in distress. Residents in some San Juan neighborhoods have tracked more than 118 days of unreliable water service this year alone. Small businesses are spending $300 to $500 a day just to stay open. These are Americans in crisis — the immediate need is clear, and the federal response must match it. Make that happen now.