Velázquez and Gillibrand Lead Bicameral Letter Calling for Strengthened Flood Protection in Puerto Rico
Washington D.C.— Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) led a bicameral letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) calling on the agency to convene an independent technical advisory board to develop a comprehensive plan to improve climate resiliency and environmental justice for flood projects in Puerto Rico. The letter comes as Puerto Rico enters an extended hurricane season, which runs from June 1st until November 30th.
In recent years, climate change and extreme weather events have had a severe impact on Puerto Rico. Five years ago, the island was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and María, causing the longest blackout in U.S. history, lasting 11 months. The territory is still recovering from the chaos and extensive damage wrought by those storms and additional disasters since.
Recent bipartisan legislation has funded 35 current USACE projects to help rebuild Puerto Rico and protect it from future flooding. These projects constitute an unprecedented investment in Puerto Rico’s water infrastructure and have the potential to significantly reduce the island’s existing critical vulnerabilities to storm events. However, locals and experts have expressed concerns regarding the coordination and organization of the projects and their receptivity to public input.
In the letter, the lawmakers urge USACE to convene an independent advisory technical board to develop a comprehensive plan to detail how these projects will work in concert and align with the Biden Administration’s policy guidelines of forward-looking climate resiliency, nature-based solutions, and environmental justice.
“Members of the scientific, engineering, and planning communities around the island share these concerns and have made repeated requests to USACE to address them, but it does not appear that local views are being adequately considered” wrote the lawmakers. “We are confident that convening an independent technical advisory board would be in the best interests of USACE and the communities of Puerto Rico and believe local project sponsors are increasingly in favor of this path forward as well.”
This letter was also signed by: Reps. Andre Carson (D-IN), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Eleanor Homes Norton (D-DC), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Juan Vargas (D-CA), and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
The letter was endorsed by 19 advocacy organizations including: San Juan Bay Estuary Program, College of Architects and Landscaping Architects of Puerto Rico, Ciudadanos del Karso, Puerto Rico Sea Grant Program, ENLACE, Grupo de las Ocho Comunidades Aledañas al Caño Martín Peña, CAMBIO PR, University of Puerto Rico Environmental Law Clinic, Alianza por la Cuenca del Río Piedras, Guarda Río, Comunidades en Defensa del Río Piedras, Amigos de Puerto Nuevo por la Cuenca, EduReCréate, Center for Biological Diversity, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Environmental Sciences Program, University of Puerto Rio-Río Piedras Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation (CATEC), University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Environmental Public Health Program, Foundation for Puerto Rico, Para la Naturaleza, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund.
“The bicameral letter led by Rep. Velázquez and Sen. Gillibrand to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a pivotal step forward in ensuring that the significant federal investment for Puerto Rico's water infrastructure is suitable to address multiple climate hazards, puts the needs of disadvantaged and underserved communities first, and prioritizes the use of nature-based approaches. The local scientific community has been calling for years for a comprehensive evaluation of all proposed projects and to re-assess their benefit-cost analysis based on the available climate science and socio-economic realities of Puerto Rican communities. With another hurricane season upon us, we cannot afford to get this wrong.” - Ariel E. Lugo, Ecologist and member of the Alianza por la Cuenca del Río Piedras.
“The flood control projects in Puerto Rico are amongst the most critical infrastructure investments that the island needs. The Island's infrastructure is aged and, in some places, collapsed. The causes behind the flood issues are complex, and the solutions need to be designed with that in mind and close coordination with municipalities, state agencies, and the private sector. The bicameral request to the USACE makes total sense, as concerted actions are needed to make responsible use of federal funding and contribute to the resilience of a threatened island. I hope USACE agrees and acts to put in place the proposed measures. The local scientific community would happily support USACE in convening the independent technical advisory board.”- Brenda Torres, Water Quality Environmental Manager at San Juan Estuary Program.
A PDF of the letter can be found here.
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