BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 17 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Friday after the White House asked Congress for $44 billion in additional disaster relief for areas ravaged by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria:

“The president’s request for supplemental appropriations for disaster relief is totally inadequate. While the president wants to provide the very richest people in this country hundreds of billions in tax relief, he is largely ignoring the needs of the communities that were devastated by the recent hurricanes. Two months after Hurricane Maria, the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still suffering without electricity, clean water and other basic necessities. That is not acceptable. I will be releasing comprehensive legislation this month to address the short- and long-term needs of the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a nation, we must stand with those communities that have been devastated by natural disasters.”