PRINTER'S NO. 2573
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
563
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY VAZQUEZ, CRUZ, YOUNGBLOOD, O'BRIEN, DONATUCCI,
PASHINSKI, READSHAW, CALTAGIRONE, BIZZARRO, DRISCOLL,
J. HARRIS, D. COSTA, RYAN, SCHWEYER, BULLOCK, ROZZI, HILL-
EVANS, KINSEY, DAVIDSON, CONKLIN, W. KELLER, MURT, WATSON AND
DALEY, OCTOBER 16, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, OCTOBER 16, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Urging the President and the Congress of the United States to
establish a joint task force for the purpose of providing
emergency support and resources to assist Puerto Rico, the
United States Virgin Islands and their residents recover from
the damage and destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma and
Maria.
WHEREAS, Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm with wind speeds
of 185 miles per hour, struck the United States Virgin Islands
on September 6, 2017, and left widespread destruction in its
wake; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, the United States Virgin Islands
have suffered from a cycle of financial mismanagement, leaving
the islands and their residents in an inadequate and unprepared
state to deal with the damaging effects of Hurricane Irma and,
two weeks later, Hurricane Maria; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the damage created by Hurricane Irma,
a second storm, Hurricane Maria, further impacted recovery
efforts in the United States Virgin Islands through widespread
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flooding and brought a new wave of destruction upon making
landfall in Puerto Rico during the early hours of the morning of
September 20, 2017; and
WHEREAS, During Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico sustained
damaging rain and winds in excess of 155 miles per hour, causing
widespread and extensive damage; and
WHEREAS, Similarly to the United States Virgin Islands,
Puerto Rico has in recent years been burdened by a burgeoning
debt crisis, which has indefinitely delayed necessary upgrades
and improvements to infrastructure and utility services; and
WHEREAS, Sadly, residents of Puerto Rico and the United
States Virgin Islands are now living without electricity and
have extremely limited cell phone service, emergency and medical
services and access to clean water and food supplies; and
WHEREAS, Residents of Puerto Rico and the United States
Virgin Islands are now faced with great obstacles in their
attempt to rebuild their communities and lives and would benefit
significantly through the enhanced support and leadership of a
joint task force headed by the United States Department of
Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the President and the Congress
of the United States to establish a joint task force for the
purpose of providing emergency support and resources to assist
Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and their
residents recover from the damage and destruction caused by
Hurricanes Irma and Maria; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
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member of the Pennsylvania delegation to Congress.
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