Nurses in Puerto Rico Warn Dire Conditions, Slow Relief Effort Posing Urgent Health, Safety Crisis

Source: National Nurses United

Washington, D.C. - October 10, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- NNU’s Registered Nurse Relief Network (RNRN) sent 50 RNs as part of a 300-member deployment led by the AFL-CIO in conjunction with the Puerto Rican Federation of Labor and the San Juan Mayor’s office. They cite:

People who have yet to receive any food, water, and other supplies from FEMA or any other agency.

People standing in line for hours in blistering heat waiting for desperately needed water and food, only to finally see federal disaster officials bringing paperwork “to collect data” rather than critical supplies.

Multiple houses with roofs blown off and soaked interiors where there is dangerous black mold growing that creates respiratory distress and illness.

A breakout of leptospirosis, a dangerous bacterial disease that has already claimed lives.

Widespread devastation with families across the island who have seen no signs of FEMA or other federal relief officials.

“While we hear boasts of a great response, the reality on the ground is far different,” said Bonnie Castillo, RN, director of NNU’s RNRN program. “What our nurses witness daily is the harsh reality of a woefully inadequate government response and the brutal, inhumane impact on the Puerto Rican people. People are still without food and drinking water. That poses an enormous humanitarian threat in terms of disease, life, and death and who succumbs first,” Castillo said.

“There can be no more delays. There is an extreme threat to life. The Trump Administration, FEMA, and Congress must act immediately,” Castillo said.

On the southern edge of San Juan municipality, where there has been no contact with FEMA, Red Cross or any official relief. This family has been sleeping in their roofless house on soaking wet furniture for weeks. The youngest child has (unsurprisingly) developed a rash. When RN Lucia Lopez gave the mother hydrocortisone cream, she burst into tears.

Among first hand RN reports:

“Spent the day in Rio Grande, a hard hit area outside of San Juan. No power or water here since Maria. We set up a clinic at a FEMA site (their first time here). People lined up for blocks since 10 pm last night. But FEMA was only handing out papers! Papers, which need to be filled out in order that they might receive some reimbursement eventually. Each person received a small bottle of water, a mini bag of Cheeze-Its and a little pack of vanilla cookies. Outrageous. Meanwhile grocery stores have limited supplies and lines for many blocks. What amazes me is how kind, calm and sharing the Puerto Ricans are, sharing with and helping their friends, family and neighbors. We were able to provide care to some, not nearly enough, but one small contribution to this tragedy today. – Erin Carrera, RN

“Today we went to Corozal after meeting in the disaster command center this a.m. We set up a clinic at a school where families are living, and then the mayor drove us up a hill to do door-to-door assessments. Families were extremely relieved to see us. We are seeing a breakout of leptospirosis in the community here, at least three people have died and FEMA is not releasing water to the community. Yesterday, people stood in line since 10 p.m. the previous night in hopes FEMA would show up and give them food and water. To everyone's dismay FEMA showed up, but they were not there to get food or water, they were there to fill out paperwork. They handed one bottle of water and a snack pack of Cheez-It's. I saw many patients yesterday; there were so many I lost count. It was really sad, however it's always amazing to see the spirit of the community. Neighbors are banding together to care for each other offering their last food to us not knowing if there will be any more food delivered to them. -- Kent Savary, RN

"It's hell here. I fear this island will never recover. The people have nothing, yet they are first to offer you the shirt off their back." -- Laura Maceri RN

"We couldn't believe this is part of the United States. We did home visits in the low-income community today with the public health liaisons who identify those in need and help them do basic blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, refill their meds, etc. They have already had chronic diseases going on and now their environment is full of hazardous materials and sanitation is so poor. They could not get a hold of their doctors due to closure of many clinics in the area. It's also hard to get prescriptions filled since they don't have money. We hope we can go further to the rural areas away from city where communications are cut off and people really can't get any help." -- Hau Cheng Yu, RN

RNRN volunteer nurses have cared for thousands of patients during disaster relief and humanitarian assistance deployments since the 2004 South Asian tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. RNRN is powered by NNU, the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the U.S.

House Passes Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act

Washington, D.C. - October 1, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3823, the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act. This bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Teaching Health Centers program, as well as provides disaster relief for victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

LaMalfa said: “With funding expiring on September 30th, it was important to extend authorization for the FAA and prevent nationwide employee furloughs and project halts. In addition, contained in the bill is reauthorization for the Teaching Health Centers program which is particularly important in rural areas, like Northern California, where doctor shortages are a real problem. This program has been an effective tool to address that.

This legislation also increases availability of flood insurance in high risk areas and provides a tax break to our neighbors in the South, who have been severely impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in recent months. This is a timely and important bill, and I hope the Senate will put it on the President’s desk as quickly as possible.”

H.R. 3823, the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act does the following:

Reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration and several aviation programs through March 31, 2018.

Reauthorizes Teaching Health Centers and Graduate Medical Education program.

Allows for emergency tax relief for victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Requires that federally-backed mortgages must have flood insurance if they are in flood hazard areas and reinforces that private flood insurance counts as valid flood insurance as long as that policy is state-approved.

Tax Reform, Graham-Cassidy Bill, Civil Rights, Immigrants, Hurricane Relief, Puerto Rico, Orange is the New Black

The Address to this page at The Ponder News is http://thepondernews.blogspot.com/2017/09/tax-reform-graham-cassidy-bill-civil.html

Because the number of our sources has grown so much, (We now have a total of 753 Sources, and are adding more every day) we, at The Ponder have decided to stop posting individual news items -- except for editorial commentary and special notices. I hope you like our new format. There are just too many news items for our limited staff to go through each day to be able to continue doing the news as we have been.

New Poll: 7 in 10 Americans Say Passing Tax Reform Should Be A Priority For Congress
American Action Network
Ahead of the “Big Six” unveiling details on a tax reform plan, the American Action Network’s Middle-Class Growth Initiative (MCGI) released results from a national survey on Americans’ views on tax reform. The survey finds overwhelming support for passing comprehensive tax reform with 73% of Americans saying it should be a top priority or an important priority for Congress. Additionally, the survey found Americans, across party lines, view lowering middle-class tax rates as the most important tax reform initiative.
Read more...


AAFP to Congress: Time to Work on Bipartisan Health Care Legislation
American Academy of Family Physicians
"The American Academy of Family Physicians is pleased that the U.S. Senate has determined that they will not proceed with efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. We applaud those Senators who rejected this proposal and stood up for health care coverage for people in their state. With today’s withdrawal of the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson amendment, we call on Congress to return to bipartisan negotiations aimed at amending and improving current law, not repealing it.
Read more...

ACLU COMMENT ON HOMELAND SECURITY NOTICE ON IMMIGRANTS’ SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
American Civil Liberties Union
Faiz Shakir, American Civil Liberties Union national political director, had the following reaction to the Department of Homeland Security’s notice on immigrants’ social media information:
Read more...

AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders Calls on Trump and Congress to Act on Puerto Rico
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders issued the following statement calling on President Trump and Congress to act on hurricane relief to Puerto Rico:
Read more...

AFT President Randi Weingarten on GOP’s Decision to Withdraw Graham-Cassidy
American Federation of Teachers
“Americans sent a message to Senate Republicans who thought a political win was more important than stripping millions of Americans of their healthcare: ‘Think again.’
Read more...

EVENT
Piper Kerman, Author of Orange is the New Black Keynotes American Probation and Parole Association
American Probation and Parole Association
The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) will hold its 42nd Annual Training Institute at the Marriott Marquis-Times Square, August 27-30 with over 100 engaging sessions including three exciting keynotes. Piper Kerman, the author of the national best-selling memoir Orange Is The New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison (Spiegel & Grau), will be featured at the opening session on Sunday, August 27th. Piper will discuss her personal experiences and the state of criminal justice in America.
Read more...

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Pelosi Says Dems Won't Approve Hurricane Tax Relief Until DACA Reinstated.

Source: House Representative Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota)

Congressman Kevin Cramer issued the following statement after House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, put politics over policy by opposing a six-month extension of the Federal Aviation Administration and hurricane tax relief:

“Citing no movement on DACA as a reason to obstruct the otherwise bipartisan FAA reauthorization is not only puzzling, but it’s reckless and it puts the safety of the traveling public at risk. I’m baffled by Nancy Pelosi’s willingness to use DACA individuals as pawns to score political points.”

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a program created under the Obama Administration in 2012, which according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, allows certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines to request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time. Deferred action does not provide lawful status.

The Ponder wants to know: What does DACA have to do with the FAA? If this is not a blatant attempt to undermine Trump, once again, I don't know what is. Will voters PLEASE vote these whiney-babies out next election!

I'm sure there are a lot of voters out there stranded because of lack of Hurricane Relief who will remember her -- I hope.

Bishop Statement on Hurricane Maria’s Impact on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Source: House Committee on Natural Resources

Washington, D.C. - September 22, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement on Hurricane Maria’s impact on the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands:

"The residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have been devastated by Hurricane Maria, a storm that took human lives and left millions without power, water and stable infrastructure. This is the most unfortunate circumstances that both of these U.S. territories could possibly face given the recent devastation of Hurricane Irma. I, along with all of our committee members, pray for all those impacted.

“I have spoken with Resident Commissioner Gonzalez on the extent of the damage, as well as plans for relief, and will be working with Delegate Plaskett on a similar plan of action. Together, we will advocate for the full support of the federal government. Both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are in dire need of our assistance and we will do everything in our power to ensure that all necessary resources are made available.

“As Americans, both in the mainland and throughout all of our territories, we are all in this together."

Blumenthal Statement on Senate Vote to Raise the Debt Ceiling, Fund the Government, and Provide Disaster Relief for Hurricane Victims

Source: Senator Richard Blumenthal- (D - CT)

Washington, D.C. - September 8, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement after the Senate voted to raise the debt ceiling, extend government funding through December 8th, and provide $15.25 billion in disaster relief for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

“Today's vote falls far short of a long-term solution for any of the fiscal challenges facing our nation, but it is a positive step that will keep the lights on. The Senate acted swiftly to provide critical emergency funding for communities devastated by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, but much more is needed. We funded the government for another three months, but short-term funding measures are no way to run a government,” said Blumenthal.