WASHINGTON - Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson continue to keep pressure on President Donald Trump to aid Puerto Rico, calling on him to “leverage all available resources to assist those affected by this natural disaster.”

The Florida lawmakers sent Trump a letter on the same day Trump announced he would travel to Puerto Rico next week. It reads:



We write in full support of the requests made by Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló and U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp for additional federal assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

As you well know, Hurricane Maria caused extreme devastation to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, leaving millions without power, communications, and water. This is a life threatening situation, as a great majority are unable to contact law enforcement or their loved ones.

We urge you to leverage all available resources to assist those affected by this natural disaster. The Department of Defense, in particular, has performed valiantly in response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Our brave men and women in uniform are well equipped, trained, and tempered to handle the dire situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Given Hurricane Maria’s devastating impact, federal assistance is imperative to ensure a full recovery from the storm. We urge you to approve the requests made by Governors Rosselló and Mapp for additional federal resources to assist with lifesaving and recovery efforts.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to working with you on these matters.