Civil and Human Rights Coalition Calls on Congress to Fully Fund Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the urgent need for Congress to provide additional disaster supplemental relief for the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico:

“Congress was swift to respond to the hurricanes that devastated Florida and Texas, but the situation in Puerto Rico remains dire and Congress must do much more to help the victims of Hurricane Maria. All Americans who are devastated by natural disasters should be equally assured of clean drinking water and food, safe shelter, and access to healthcare. Geography does not change the federal government’s obligation to take care of its own.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.