Trump says he will work with Congress on more aid for Puerto RicoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will work with the U.S. Congress to approve grants and loans to help rebuild Puerto Rico after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria a month ago. Already mired in debt after years of recession, the U.S. territory faces storm-related damages that some estimates have pegged as high as $95 billion, and has asked the federal government to make exceptions to rules that typically require states and local governments to shoulder part of the cost of recovery. Trump did not give any specifics about how much money the government may give or loan to the cash-strapped territory, home to 3.4 million U.S. citizens. “I have given my blessing to Congress, and Congress is working with you and your representatives on coming up with a plan and a payment plan and how it’s all going to be funded. Because you are talking about some substantial numbers,” Trump said to Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello at the beginning of an Oval Office meeting. Trump and some of his top aides suggested last week that there would be limits to how much help Puerto Rico could expect from Washington. But on Thursday, the president’s remarks were broadly supportive. The hurricane laid waste to the island’s power grid, destroying homes, roads and other vital infrastructure. The bankrupt territory is still struggling to provide basic services like running water. An oversight board charged with resolving Puerto Rico’s debt crisis has said the island’s government would run out of money by the end of the month without help. Trump emphasized that repayment of federal loans and other storm-related debt owed by Puerto Rico would come before repayment of the island’s existing $72 billion in debt. “Any money that’s put in by people - whether it’s public or private - they’re going to want to come in first position,” Trump said. “We’re going to coming before - far before - any existing debt that’s on the island,” he said. Trump declined to opine on whether the process would be easier if Puerto Rico were a state rather than a territory - a hot-button political issue on the island. “You’ll get me into trouble with that question,” he told a reporter. While in Washington, Rossello also met with Senate leaders. The Senate is expected to vote in coming days on an aid package that includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has been helping Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands recover from three massive hurricanes. Some senators would like to see more funds added to that package, Senator John Thune, a member of the Republican leadership, told reporters.  Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida who has been deeply involved in discussions over the aid, said earlier on Thursday that he wants to tweak the bill so the island could more quickly access funds. Congress is expected to consider another aid package by the end of December, but that could be too late for the island, which currently has no tax revenue, Rubio said. “I know from experience the further away we get from these hurricanes, the less of a sense of urgency there is,” Rubio said. Rossello has asked the federal government for approval to use disaster aid to cover a broad range of costs. He has also asked the White House and Congress for at least $4.6 billion in block grants and other types of funding. “The reality is that we still need to do a lot more for the people of Puerto Rico and that’s why we’re meeting,” Rossello said. “This is not over, not over by a long shot.” politicsNews
trump says work congress aid puerto ricowashington reuters president donald trump said thursday work congress approve grants loans help rebuild puerto rico devastated hurricane maria month ago already aired debt years recession territory faces damages estimates pegged high billion asked federal government make exceptions rules typically require states local governments shoulder part cost recovery trump give specifics much money government may give loan territory home million citizens i given blessing congress congress working representatives coming plan payment plan going funded because talking substantial numbers trump said puerto rico governor ricardo russell beginning oval office meeting trump top aides suggested last week would limits much help puerto rico could expect washington but thursday president remarks broadly supportive the hurricane laid waste island power grid destroying homes roads vital infrastructure the bankrupt territory still struggling provide basic services like running water an oversight board charged resolving puerto rico debt crisis said island government would run money end month without help trump emphasized repayment federal loans debt owed puerto rico would come repayment island existing billion debt any money put people whether public private going want come first position trump said we going coming far existing debt island said trump declined pine whether process would easier puerto rico state rather territory political issue island you get trouble question told reporter while washington russell also met senate leaders the senate expected vote coming days aid package includes billion federal emergency management agency helping texas florida puerto rico virgin islands recover three massive hurricanes some senators would like see funds added package senator john thune member republican leadership told reporters senator marco rubio republican florida deeply involved discussions aid said earlier thursday wants tweak bill island could quickly access funds congress expected consider another aid package end december could late island currently tax revenue rubio said i know experience away get hurricanes less sense urgency rubio said russell asked federal government approval use disaster aid cover broad range costs he also asked white house congress least billion block grants types funding the reality still need lot people puerto rico meeting russell said this long politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Trump says he will work with Congress on more aid for Puerto RicoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will work with the U.S. Congress to approve grants and loans to help rebuild Puerto Rico after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria a month ago. Already mired in debt after years of recession, the U.S. territory faces storm-related damages that some estimates have pegged as high as $95 billion, and has asked the federal government to make exceptions to rules that typically require states and local governments to shoulder part of the cost of recovery. Trump did not give any specifics about how much money the government may give or loan to the cash-strapped territory, home to 3.4 million U.S. citizens. “I have given my blessing to Congress, and Congress is working with you and your representatives on coming up with a plan and a payment plan and how it’s all going to be funded. Because you are talking about some substantial numbers,” Trump said to Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello at the beginning of an Oval Office meeting. Trump and some of his top aides suggested last week that there would be limits to how much help Puerto Rico could expect from Washington. But on Thursday, the president’s remarks were broadly supportive. The hurricane laid waste to the island’s power grid, destroying homes, roads and other vital infrastructure. The bankrupt territory is still struggling to provide basic services like running water. An oversight board charged with resolving Puerto Rico’s debt crisis has said the island’s government would run out of money by the end of the month without help. Trump emphasized that repayment of federal loans and other storm-related debt owed by Puerto Rico would come before repayment of the island’s existing $72 billion in debt. “Any money that’s put in by people - whether it’s public or private - they’re going to want to come in first position,” Trump said. “We’re going to coming before - far before - any existing debt that’s on the island,” he said. Trump declined to opine on whether the process would be easier if Puerto Rico were a state rather than a territory - a hot-button political issue on the island. “You’ll get me into trouble with that question,” he told a reporter. While in Washington, Rossello also met with Senate leaders. The Senate is expected to vote in coming days on an aid package that includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has been helping Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands recover from three massive hurricanes. Some senators would like to see more funds added to that package, Senator John Thune, a member of the Republican leadership, told reporters.  Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida who has been deeply involved in discussions over the aid, said earlier on Thursday that he wants to tweak the bill so the island could more quickly access funds. Congress is expected to consider another aid package by the end of December, but that could be too late for the island, which currently has no tax revenue, Rubio said. “I know from experience the further away we get from these hurricanes, the less of a sense of urgency there is,” Rubio said. Rossello has asked the federal government for approval to use disaster aid to cover a broad range of costs. He has also asked the White House and Congress for at least $4.6 billion in block grants and other types of funding. “The reality is that we still need to do a lot more for the people of Puerto Rico and that’s why we’re meeting,” Rossello said. “This is not over, not over by a long shot.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: trump says work congress aid puerto ricowashington reuters president donald trump said thursday work congress approve grants loans help rebuild puerto rico devastated hurricane maria month ago already aired debt years recession territory faces damages estimates pegged high billion asked federal government make exceptions rules typically require states local governments shoulder part cost recovery trump give specifics much money government may give loan territory home million citizens i given blessing congress congress working representatives coming plan payment plan going funded because talking substantial numbers trump said puerto rico governor ricardo russell beginning oval office meeting trump top aides suggested last week would limits much help puerto rico could expect washington but thursday president remarks broadly supportive the hurricane laid waste island power grid destroying homes roads vital infrastructure the bankrupt territory still struggling provide basic services like running water an oversight board charged resolving puerto rico debt crisis said island government would run money end month without help trump emphasized repayment federal loans debt owed puerto rico would come repayment island existing billion debt any money put people whether public private going want come first position trump said we going coming far existing debt island said trump declined pine whether process would easier puerto rico state rather territory political issue island you get trouble question told reporter while washington russell also met senate leaders the senate expected vote coming days aid package includes billion federal emergency management agency helping texas florida puerto rico virgin islands recover three massive hurricanes some senators would like see funds added package senator john thune member republican leadership told reporters senator marco rubio republican florida deeply involved discussions aid said earlier thursday wants tweak bill island could quickly access funds congress expected consider another aid package end december could late island currently tax revenue rubio said i know experience away get hurricanes less sense urgency rubio said russell asked federal government approval use disaster aid cover broad range costs he also asked white house congress least billion block grants types funding the reality still need lot people puerto rico meeting russell said this long politicsnews