TUCSON, AZ—Yesterday, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study by Harvard University estimating that more than 4,645 people died during Hurricane Maria and its immediate aftermath—far exceeding the official government death toll of 64. In response, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement:

“This report confirms what many of us suspected all along: the human tragedy of Hurricane Maria was much more devastating than initial estimates. We now know that the inability to quickly repair utilities and bring health care, food, and water to devastated areas unnecessarily resulted in thousands of fatalities. By not providing swift aid to the island immediately following Hurricane Maria, this report makes it clear that the Trump Administration failed the people of Puerto Rico.

“As thousands faced food insecurity in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Trump heartlessly tossed paper towels into a crowd of survivors. While Puerto Rico’s elderly residents faced deadly barriers to accessing life-saving health resources, Trump picked a fight with the mayor of San Juan on Twitter. For someone so eager to comment on the news of the day, Trump’s silence on this new report is deafening.

“Our brothers and sisters of Puerto Rico deserve better than paper towels and Twitter commentary. Congress must fund the full recovery of Puerto Rico and ensure better disaster preparedness for future storms. I stand with the people of Puerto Rico and will continue fighting for the aid they need to not just rebuild—but to prosper.”     

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