Some progressives worry Puerto Rico is being left behind on 2020 campaign trail

Some progressive groups are concerned that Puerto Rico is being left behind on the 2020 campaign trail, with the sprawling field of Democratic candidates not actively addressing issues the island continues to grapple with — including stalled hurricane recovery efforts, a prolonged fiscal crisis and what many believe has been more than 120 years of colonial treatment.

With other issues like health care, immigration, climate change and gun control dominating the discourse among White House hopefuls, a coalition of more than 50 Puerto Rican and Latino advocacy organizations are ramping up efforts to make sure the pressing problems faced by the U.S. territory — home to 3.2 million American citizens — don't get lost in the national conversation as next year's presidential election approaches.

Erica González, the director of the group spearheading the campaign, Power 4 Puerto Rico, said the objective is to ensure the island, which is still recovering from two powerful storms in 2017, becomes a staple issue in election cycles.

"In the same way the programs and policy platforms are put out about jobs or education or immigration, we want to see the level of presentation in terms of a cohesive and comprehensive set of policies that are going to address issues for Puerto Rico pre- and post-Hurricane María," González told CBS News.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/some-progressives-worry-puerto-rico-is-being-left-behind-on-the-2020-campaign-trail/