At Armed Services Committee Hearing, Blumenthal Questions Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff About Efforts to Aid Puerto Rico

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) questioned Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford on the U.S. military’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Blumenthal pressed General Dunford on current efforts by the U.S. military to aid Puerto Rico, where residents have been without power – and in some places, without potable water – for nearly a week. U.S. military forces, including the Connecticut National Guard, have mobilized to help bring aid to the island.

“I would like to focus, just briefly, on Puerto Rico,” said Blumenthal. “Is there more the Department of Defense can do to provide assistance in the midst of this humanitarian crisis, which involves not only human suffering, but also the interruption, for some period of time, of communications, of travel, logistics, the lifeblood in terms of infrastructure of the island. Is there more that the military can do?”

Dunford responded, “Senator if there is, we will be doing it… First of all, I couldn’t agree with you more. We’ve watched the tragedy unfold over the last few days… To date, what they’ve identified are the things that would allow us to open the airfields, open the ports, and get us that immediate electricity, fresh water and food to the people in Puerto Rico. But if there is more that needs to be done, I can assure you that Secretary Mattis has placed Puerto Rico as a priority for all of us, and General Robinson is in constant contact with FEMA as well as with officials in Puerto Rico to make sure the department is leaning forward and providing all the support that they need.”

Power outages across Puerto Rico have plunged the island into a state of humanitarian disaster, with food, water, and fuel supplies at dangerously low levels. The Trump Administration has pledged to send an aid package to Congress for consideration as late as the second week in October – at which point Puerto Ricans will have been without power and necessary resources for nearly three weeks. Today, Blumenthal joined nine of his Senate colleagues on a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to allow Congress to swiftly take up legislation to provide necessary help to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Blumenthal will speak on the Senate Floor this afternoon to urge the Trump Administration and Congressional leadership to take immediate action to provide relief for Puerto Rico.

Video of Blumenthal’s exchange with General Dunford is available here, and transcribed below.

Blumenthal: I would like to focus, just briefly, on Puerto Rico… is there more the Department of Defense can do to provide assistance in the midst of this humanitarian crisis, which involves not only human suffering, but also the interruption, for some period of time, of communications, of travel, logistics, the lifeblood in terms of infrastructure of the island. Is there more that the military can do?

Dunford: Senator if there is, we will be doing it… First of all, I couldn’t agree with you more. We’ve watched the tragedy unfold over the last few days. The last update I had – not just to come over here, but because that’s how constantly we’re getting updated – was an update on Puerto Rico. To date, what they’ve identified are the things that would allow us to open the airfields, open the ports, and get us that immediate electricity, fresh water and food to the people in Puerto Rico. But if there is more that needs to be done, I can assure you that Secretary Mattis has placed Puerto Rico as a priority for all of us, and General Robinson is in constant contact with FEMA as well as with officials in Puerto Rico to make sure the department is leaning forward and providing all the support that they need.

Blumenthal: The National Guard of Connecticut and I think of other states have been involved in transportation, the airfields are now open to military aircraft and relief flights. Do you anticipate that military aircraft can and will be used more extensively in this effort?

Dunford: I do Senator. That’s absolutely part of the plan, particularly, again, for generators, water, food, those kind of immediate needs.

Blumenthal: Would you anticipate that the Corps of Engineers can play a role in opening some of the ports, perhaps in some of the other means of transportation that could be involved?

Dunford: Senator, I don’t know whether it’d be specifically the Corps of Engineers or some of our combat engineers, but I do believe that the military is uniquely capable of being able to clear the debris and repair the airfields and get them up and operating and I can assure you whatever capabilities are required in that regard, whether they’re resident inside the Corps of Engineers or resident in some of our other operational units we’ll make sure the right capability is at the right place.

Blumenthal: And the Department of Defense is indeed leaning forward and prepared – ready, able, and willing to provide whatever assistance is necessary?

Dunford: Absolutely, Senator. These are Americans and we’re going to do everything we can to help them out.

Blumenthal: And they are Americans?

Dunford: They are Americans, Senator.