A state lawmaker, born in Puerto Rico, is blasting the federal government for its response to Hurricane Maria. Orlando Senator Victor Torres wants to see Florida to step up to the plate.
Torres made an impassioned plea to the state's budget writers: Set money aside for the thousands of Puerto Ricans who have already come or will come to Florida in the near future.
“I ask you for appropriate action as if it were your family members who are suffering in the same circumstances,” said Torres.
Specifically, he is asking the state to send more money to local school districts to help them pay for the influx of new students.
So far, more than 7,000 refugees from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have enrolled in Florida schools.
State Education Commissioner Pam Steward told the budget committee that students are already impacting Florida schools.