{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://hernandez.house.gov/media/press-releases/comisionado-residente-impulsa-la-ayuda-de-fema-retrasada-para-puerto-rico", "Comisionado Residente Impulsa la Ayuda de FEMA Retrasada para Puerto Rico", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "PR", "Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez", "H001103", "hernandez.house.gov", "hernandez", "https://hernandez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 En una vista del Comit\u00e9 de Homeland Security, el Comisionado Residente de Puerto Rico, Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez, reclam\u00f3 a la secretaria del Departamento de Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, que atienda las crecientes preocupaciones sobre los retrasos de FEMA que han obstaculizado los esfuerzos de recuperaci\u00f3n en toda la Isla.\n\n\u201cLos alcaldes de Puerto Rico, de ambos partidos, est\u00e1n haciendo todo lo posible para reconstruir sus comunidades. Lo que necesitan es un socio federal que act\u00fae con urgencia, no uno que se retire,\u201d dijo Hern\u00e1ndez. \u201cLa secretaria Noem se fue a mitad de la vista sin contestar las preguntas m\u00e1s b\u00e1sicas sobre estos retrasos. Eso es inaceptable. Continuar\u00e9 presionando hasta que los procesos de FEMA se corrijan y nuestro pueblo reciba el apoyo que se le prometi\u00f3.\u201d\n\nEn agosto, Hern\u00e1ndez envi\u00f3 a la secretaria Noem una carta solicitando explicaciones sobre su directriz interna que requiere su aprobaci\u00f3n personal para todas las compras, subvenciones y contratos de FEMA por encima de $100,000, un umbral que cubre la gran mayor\u00eda de los proyectos financiados por FEMA en la Isla. El Departamento tard\u00f3 tres meses en responder y no atendi\u00f3 las preocupaciones planteadas.\n\nDesde entonces, alcaldes y funcionarios de manejo de emergencias han informado que esta pol\u00edtica ha retrasado la liberaci\u00f3n de millones de d\u00f3lares destinados a proyectos de mitigaci\u00f3n de riesgos, reconstrucci\u00f3n y respuesta ante emergencias tras los huracanes Mar\u00eda y Fiona, as\u00ed como ante eventos climatol\u00f3gicos recientes.\n\nResident Commissioner Demands Answers on FEMA\u2019s Delayed Aid to Puerto Rico\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, Pablo Jos\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez, is calling on the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to address mounting concerns over FEMA delays that have hindered disaster recovery efforts across Puerto Rico.\n\n\u201cPuerto Rico\u2019s mayors, from both parties, are doing everything in their power to rebuild their communities. What they need is a federal partner that acts with urgency, not one that walks away,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said. \u201cSecretary Noem left halfway through the hearing without answering the most basic questions about these delays. That is unacceptable. I will continue pressing until FEMA\u2019s processes are fixed and our people receive the support they were promised.\u201d\n\nIn August, Hern\u00e1ndez sent Secretary Noem a formal letter requesting explanations for her internal directive requiring her personal approval for all FEMA purchases, grants, and contracts over $100,000, a threshold that covers the vast majority of FEMA-funded projects on the Island. The Department took three months to respond and failed to address the concerns raised.\n\nLocal mayors and emergency managers have since reported that the directive has slowed the release of millions of dollars for hazard mitigation, reconstruction, and emergency response projects following Hurricanes Mar\u00eda and Fiona, as well as more recent severe weather events.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://hernandez.house.gov/media/press-releases/comisionado-residente-impulsa-la-ayuda-de-fema-retrasada-para-puerto-rico"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9331279434263706, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}