Editor’s Note: This column originally appeared in The Hill
After World War II, the United States rebuilt western Europe from the ashes. Under the Marshall Plan, our country provided billions of dollars in aid to Germany and 15 other nations, sparking an unprecedented economic boom, reviving infrastructure that was in shambles and building a foundation for sustained prosperity that Europeans enjoy to this day.
Puerto Rico needs and deserves a Marshall Plan of its own.
It’s time for Congress and the White House to commit to a long-term recovery and rebuilding strategy following the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Maria. If our leaders believe we can afford giant tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans, then we can certainly afford to restore a normal life for the 3.5 million American citizens who call Puerto Rico home. …