The awful Trump FEMA response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, combined with the island’s already excessive debt, is leaving the island unable to properly recover.

And advocates on the ground in Puerto Rico say the same thing when asked what’s the number one thing Congress can do:  relieve the debt.

Now, four Senators (Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren) are co-sponsoring legislation to do just that, with Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) expected to introduce companion legislation in the House.

Under the bill, territories such as Puerto Rico can opt for relief of unsecured public debt if they meet two out of three criteria: a population decrease of more than 5 percent over the past 10 years, the receipt of federal disaster assistance, and per capita debt over $15,000 per resident. Puerto Rico would qualify under all three factors, as would the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Justice requires that aggressive efforts to reduce global warming pollution be paired with swift and just responses to climate fueled disasters.

As climate disasters become the “new normal,” we have a long way to go in figuring out the path to justice when climate disasters hit.   So far, we can say with certainty that our response to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands has been unjust.

The result is that greedy Wall Street investment firms are placing a stranglehold on Puerto Rico's economy, undercutting its ability to provide a normal life for its residents and holding back the potential for a new, renewably powered electric grid.

We need to build momentum and pressure now so that it becomes one of Congress’ first items of business in January if we succeed in electing a new, Democratic majority.

Please use the form on the right. If you have time to personalize the letter, it will make it more powerful.