Senate plan links Harvey aid, debt ceiling

WASHINGTON — Senate leaders are prepared to vote this week on legislation that would pair an increase in the federal government’s borrowing limit with $7.9 billion in disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Harvey despite opposition from conservatives.

The decision to combine the two unrelated measures is a potentially risky strategy that could further alienate conservatives who have insisted that any debt-limit increase be paired with corresponding spending cuts. Leaders hope that those on the far right will abandon their demands to immediately replenish rapidly diminishing funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, whose home state is still reeling from Harvey’s impact, endorsed the strategy Tuesday and vowed to move quickly to pass the debt-and-disaster package. And House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in the Capitol late Tuesday that the House will also take up the measure if it passes the Senate.

“I believe that FEMA is going to literally run out of money at the end of this week,” Cornyn told reporters. “It is imperative that we get that supplemental passed. The leaders made the decision to attach the debt limit to that, and I support that decision.”

The House is expected to vote on an initial version of the disaster relief package today. If all goes as planned, the Senate would then attach the debtlimit increase and hold a vote before the end of the week.

Such a swift timeline would allow Congress to approve the disaster relief money ahead of the potential impact of Hurricane Irma, which could make landfall in Florida this week. It would also allay fears of a federal government default if Congress fails to increase the debt limit.

But conservatives, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, want to see the disaster aid approved without the debt limit attached. Cruz said Tuesday that he believes the FEMA funds should not be “tied to other unrelated matters” but he did not answer when asked if he would actively oppose a plan to combine the two matters. “My hope is that we will see strong bipartisan support for substantial relief from the crushing damages,” Cruz said. “There will be many ongoing discussions in Congress about passing that relief package.”

President Donald Trump has not explicitly endorsed the plan, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday that both he and the president think that the debt limit should be tied to Harvey funding.