In the fall of 2020, I was appointed by former President Donald J. Trump to serve on Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB). Parliament established the board in 2016 to facilitate the restructuring of the island’s massive debt and introduce much-needed fiscal management and reforms. Even though I had more than a decade of professional experience in Puerto Rico prior to my appointment, I learned even more about this important region of the United States during my three-year term on the Board. What I can personally attest to is: The president has done more for Puerto Rico than President Trump.

The Trump administration took action after Hurricane Maria hit the island in 2019. The response was swift, historic and unrelenting, lasting literally days before President Trump left the White House in January 2021.. Under his leadership, thousands of federal personnel were sent to the island to assist in recovery efforts. This included the longest continuous air mission of transporting food and water and the largest sea bridge operation in FEMA’s history. Immediately after the disaster, President Trump approved billions of dollars for Puerto Rico’s rebuilding and recovery. Details include:

• $9.6 billion to repair and rebuild Puerto Rico’s power grid.
• Donated $2 billion to the Puerto Rico Department of Education for school building and facility renovations.
• For nearly a year after the storm, 100 percent of Puerto Rico’s emergency construction cost share was funded, the third longest period ever granted by a president.
• Aid and assistance from the Trump administration to the people of Puerto Rico totals more than $40 billion.

Predictably, the national media ignored these facts and has since shamelessly and falsely portrayed President Trump as incompetent and indifferent toward Puerto Rico. Indeed, much of the federal aid made available remains unutilized because the Biden administration has failed to hold the Financial Oversight Board and Puerto Rico’s current government accountable for managing these funds.

To make matters worse, eight years after Congress granted national bankruptcy relief, Cumulative debt totaling over $70 billionPuerto Rico’s power company, PREPA, remains in bankruptcy as it continues to spend money. Hundreds of millions of dollars for law firms and consultants People who are economically encouraged to maintain the status quo. The $9.6 billion President Trump authorized to rebuild PREPA’s power grid has gone largely unspent, leaving more than 3 million Americans living there exposed to frequent power outages and outages.

Vice President Harris announced: puerto rico plans this week. Unfortunately, it contains many of the same empty claims and promises centered around “clean energy.” The Biden-Harris Administration squandered billions of dollars and got little or nothing in return.. The Harris plan does nothing to address major obstacles to Puerto Rico’s growth prospects, such as ending bankruptcy to encourage outside investment and 21-country construction.cent The energy infrastructure that powers Puerto Rico’s century of business is built on affordable and reliable U.S. natural gas, not environmental hype.

As a member of the Puerto Rico Financial Oversight Commission appointed by President Trump for three years, I saw up close what happened, who acted and who did not. I heard local politicians of both parties repeatedly express their gratitude for President Trump and his actions. Let’s be clear: President Trump took meaningful action when it mattered. Puerto Rico is a beautiful region of America. Proud Americans, Served our country in every major conflict of the last century. Our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico deserve a leader who has already proven he has the commitment, determination, and experience to help Puerto Rico grow as president. That leader is President Donald J. Trump. Let’s elect him to finish the job of building America. and Puerto Rico is also amazing.

Justin Peterson served as a member of Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight Board from 2020 to 2023.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.