Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), released the following statement today in response to House Republican’s release of an emergency funding package that does not including Medicaid funding relief for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands:
“It’s disgraceful that the House Republican’s emergency supplemental funding package does absolutely nothing for the more than 1.6 million Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that are counting on Medicaid in the wake of overwhelming devastation.
“This supplemental ignores everything we heard and saw firsthand during our bipartisan delegation visit to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands earlier this month. During that visit, Puerto Rico Governor Rosselló stressed that the island faces huge challenges in funding its Medicaid program and that without significant federal help, the island will not be able to provide care to people who are suffering.
“Congress must lift the Medicaid cap, give a 100 percent funding match to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and ensure all evacuees receive the care they need. Congress took similar actions in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and anything less for Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands is unacceptable."
