Larson Calls for U.S.-Jamaica Recovery and Resilience Initiative to Support Hurricane Melissa Disaster Response

East Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) urged the Trump Administration to continue the delivery of immediate humanitarian aid to the people of Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa's devastation and called for a new U.S.-Jamaica recovery and resilience initiative to rebuild Jamaica's infrastructure and strengthen the nation's disaster preparedness capacity for future storms.

"Hurricane Melissa was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever make landfall in the Caribbean - with even higher winds than Hurricane Katrina," said Larson. "I have heard directly from Hartford-area residents with loved ones severely impacted by this storm. Almost 500,000 households lost power and entire communities in Jamaica have been submerged. It has been heartwarming to see the West Indian community's response here in Connecticut - and it remains imperative for the federal government to step up. The United States has a responsibility to be there for our Caribbean neighbors during their time of need."

In a letterto U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he joined a group of 58 Members of Congress calling for federal support to assist Jamaica's recovery efforts.

"We welcome the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team and respectfully urge the Department of State to continue immediate humanitarian and recovery assistance to support Jamaica's response to this unprecedented disaster," the members wrote. "The United States, as Jamaica's close neighbor and ally, is uniquely positioned to lead in providing both emergency relief and strategic support for rebuilding a stronger, more resilient Jamaica. Assisting Jamaica at this critical juncture aligns with America's humanitarian values and our shared interest in a stable, prosperous, and climate-resilient Caribbean region."

They specifically called on the State Department to:

1. Ensure the U.S. humanitarian assistance response to Jamaica includes emergency food, clean water, temporary shelter, medical supplies, and power-generation equipment to sustain relief operations.

1. Coordinate closely with the Government of Jamaica and regional partners - including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and other international organizations - to ensure efficient delivery of aid and equitable distribution to the hardest-hit communities.

1. Support the rapid restoration of essential services, such as electricity, clean water, healthcare, and transportation infrastructure, to enable emergency response and recovery.

1. Launch a U.S.-Jamaica recovery and resilience initiative focused on rebuilding climate resilient infrastructure, restoring livelihoods, and strengthening disaster-preparedness capacity for future storms.

1. Utilize flexible humanitarian and reconstruction funding mechanisms within the Department to expedite aid delivery and sustain long-term recovery programs without delay.

1. Work with regional and international financial institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and IMF to leverage the necessary capital to invest in short- and long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts.

Full text of their letter to Secretary Rubio is available HERE.