H.Res. 724 is a symbolic resolution commemorating the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands in September 2017. The resolution acknowledges the hurricane's severe impacts, including over 4,000 deaths, the longest electrical blackout in U.S. history lasting 11 months, and an estimated $115 billion in damages that displaced approximately 130,000 people. It also highlights ongoing vulnerabilities, including continued power outages from subsequent hurricanes and delays in federal recovery funding despite FEMA allocating over $23 billion and HUD providing more than $20 billion in disaster recovery assistance. The resolution calls on federal agencies to expedite the distribution of recovery funds and urges Congress and the Administration to invest in resilient infrastructure improvements, particularly modernizing Puerto Rico's electrical grid and strengthening healthcare capacity. As a House resolution rather than legislation, this measure does not create new programs or funding but expresses the chamber's recognition of the disaster's lasting impact and support for continued recovery efforts.
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