In his first appearance since announcing that he is running for president, Democratic Texas Rep. Julian Castro criticized President Donald Trump for failing Puerto Rico's citizens in his response to Hurricane Maria, The Hill reported on Monday.
"Unfortunately, as all of us witnessed, the Trump administration failed the people of Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria hit," Castro, the former Housing and Urban Development Secretary said at the annual Latino Victory Fund summit in San Juan.
Castro, who announced that he was running for president on Saturday in his hometown of San Antonio, said "I chose as my first visit after [my] announcement to come to Puerto Rico, because I want all the people of Puerto Rico to know that you count, that we respect you."
Castro said that as HUD secretary he headed disaster recovery work in numerous states and that such projects require "an administration determined to get results."
He contended, however, that the Trump administration was distracted from disaster recovery to further its political goals, saying "Just the other day the president and his administration talked about taking money earmarked for Puerto Rico recovery and instead investing in [a border wall. To do so is completely objectionable, immoral and should never happen."
Congress has appropriated more than $18 billion for disaster recovery funds managed by HUD, but so far only about $2.6 billion has been spent on Puerto Rico.
Castro said that if elected president, he "will work each and every day to make sure you will recover and thrive, to make sure you are respected and know you count."
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