Ben Carson and Paul Ryan both pledged continuing support for the relief effort in Puerto Rico, despite President Donald Trump's tweets suggesting he could pull the feds out soon.
"I have no intention of abandoning Puerto Rico. They are a very important part of who we are," Carson, head of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said during a Financial Serves Committee hearing, The Hill reported.
"We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis right now," Ryan said in response to Trump's tweets, the Washington Examiner reported. "They are the personnel that are necessary to deal with the humanitarian crisis. That is necessary. And that is what's happening right now."
Trump in his tweets earlier Thursday said that the U.S. "cannot keep FEMA, the military and first responders … in P.R. forever."
Meanwhile, it only seems like forever since Puerto Ricans had power and water, with both continuing to be in short supply since Hurricane Maria ravaged the island territory.
"I think that our job is to make sure that we take care of the disaster that has occurred," Carson said.
Ryan and a bipartisan delegation travel to Puerto Rico on Friday to survey the damage and relief efforts.
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