Bryan criticized HUD plan to delay disaster mitigation aid to Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on Aug. 5, 2019, that he was disappointed by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson’s announced intent to delay a Federal Register notice for disaster mitigation funds for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

In a statement, Bryan said there had been no improprieties in the Virgin Islands’ disaster recovery process and said the territory should not be grouped with Puerto Rico in the matter.

Bryan said the Virgin Islands had drawn down $242 million in first-tranche funding and had received approval of its action plan for access to $779 million in second-tranche funding. He said the territory was awaiting HUD to prepare the grant agreement for those funds.

Bryan also said his administration questioned HUD’s decision not to include the territories in the Federal Register notice with other storm-affected areas in the continental United States and planned to challenge the decision.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-statement-on-hud-announcement-to-delay-disaster-mitigation-aid-to-usvi-puerto-rico/