Democrats call for 9/11-style commission to investigate Trump Puerto Rico response

[babylonsister]

https://thinkprogress.org/democrats-call-for-9-11-style-commission-to-investigate-trump-puerto-rico-response-5a4dd987458a/

Democrats call for 9/11-style commission to investigate Trump Puerto Rico response
A recent study found the number of deaths in Puerto Rico could surpass 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina combined.
Frank Dale
Jun 6, 2018, 6:11 pm


Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are calling for an independent commission to investigate the Trump administration’s response to Hurricane Maria and the storm’s aftermath in Puerto Rico.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) requested an investigation “similar to what we had in 9/11 to examine the death toll, the federal response and how federal agencies such as FEMA may have responded sluggishly based on artificially low numbers/”

Velazquez vowed to introduce legislation that would lead to the creation of an independent commission — though passing it in the current Republican-controlled Congress will be a challenge.

Other Democrats have called for an investigation into the Trump administration’s treatment of Puerto Rico in the wake of the devastating hurricane, but there has mostly been overwhelming silence from lawmakers on the issue.

A recent study found that the federal estimate of 64 deaths in Puerto Rico might be under-counting by 5,000-plus people.

Despite this, the White House has continued to brag about its response to the storm. “Our entire government leapt into action to coordinate the response along with state and local leaders,” President Trump said during a visit to FEMA on Wednesday. Trump didn’t address the study that estimates the actual death toll could be 70 times higher than the federal estimate.

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “The federal response, once again, was at a historic proportion” when asked about the federal government’s response during a news conference. On Friday, Trump said the response to Hurricane Maria has been good for FEMA’s “brand.”

The New England Journal of Medicine study estimated that at least 4,645 Puerto Ricans died due to the storm. As a point of comparison, 2,997 people were killed during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and 1,833 people perished during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

[BigmanPigman]

1. The Dems also have called for a separate independent investigation

along with Mueller's for over a year but of course they will never get either one from the GOP. That type of investigation is beneficial since it is relatively quick, non partisan, fully funded and the results are made public and transparent.

[awesomerwb1]

2. It's the decent, right, obligatory thing to do

which means it won't get done until we take back the House.

One more reason to vote, help, GOTV and donate as much as you can.

[stuffmatters]

3. "Number of (American) deaths could surpass 911 & Katrina combined"!

That's horrifically stunning.

[gratuitous]

4. This is the right thing to do

Of course the Republican majorities will not give this any consideration at all. Which might not be a bad strategy to use against Republican incumbents in the general election: "Why are Congress and President Trump not doing more for the American citizens of Puerto Rico?"