Washington, November 20 (RHC)-- In Washington, D.C., thousands of people rallied on the National Mall Sunday, calling for justice for Puerto Rico following the devastation of Hurricane Maria. 

Almost two months after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, nearly 50 percent of the island -- around 1.5 million Puerto Ricans -- are still without power, phone service and basic necessities.  And hundreds of thousands of residents still have no access to clean drinking water. 

The protesters called on FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to act quickly to restore services and for the cancellation of Puerto Rico’s debt.  

Among other demands is the removal of the Jones Act, which restricts delivery of shipments from foreign parties and caused significant delays to disaster relief following the destructive hurricane. 

Puerto Rican authorities have requested $94 billion for reconstruction efforts and disaster relief aid.  Last week, amid criticism from lawmakers, Congress received a request for $44 billion from the White House for hurricane-ravaged areas like Texas, Puerto Rico and Florida. Critics say that the amount is too small.