Storm relief funds advance
Final Senate OK is likely today; Texas officials seek more
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate gave preliminary approval Monday to a $36.5 billion aid package for states and territories hit by a series of hurricanes and natural disasters, including Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.
The 79-16 procedural vote sets up all but certain final passage on Tuesday.
The disaster relief vote comes more than a week after the House passed a similar measure, but it still falls short of the money Gov. Greg Abbott and many Texas lawmakers sought for immediate recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey.
President Donald Trump has assured state officials that another round of Texas-specific disaster relief is forthcoming in November, as lawmakers ready a budget resolution intended to pave the way for a major Republican tax cut bill.
Responding to increasingly urgent calls for federal aid to recover from Harvey, which submerged much of Houston, Abbott and the Texas congressional delegation have pressed for $18.7 billion in recovery aid specifically for areas hit by the August hurricane.
While Trump has yet to commit to a specific amount, Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican, has placed a hold on Trump nominee Russell Vought to be deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. Cornyn’s hold on Vought is one of two placed by senators trying to secure hurricane
relief for their states. The other was placed last week by Florida U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, in an effort to secure money for his state’s citrus industry, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Irma.
Cornyn has come under attack from supporters of Vought, an outspoken Christian conservative who has said Muslims have a “deficient theology” and “stand condemned” because they do not accept Jesus Christ as the son of God.
Cornyn said he does not oppose Vought’s nomination, but placed the hold as leverage on Trump budget director Mick Mulvaney to ensure “OMB will satisfy Texas’ needs.”
Though Senate holds are fairly unusual — especially from senators of the president’s party — the chamber’s rules grant its members wide latitude in blocking presidential nominees, at least temporarily. As the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, Cornyn also has considerable influence over the floor schedule.
$18.7 billion sought
The new disaster aid package was approved by the House earlier this month after Abbott accused the Texas delegation of getting “rolled” by not securing more money specifically for the victims of Harvey.
Abbott and Texas lawmakers in Washington signed a letter earlier this month seeking $18.7 billion in funding specifically for relief and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey.
Cornyn has not said whether the administration has to meet that figure next month in order for him to release his hold on Vought.
The package cleared Monday includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund — including nearly $5 billion for a disaster relief loan account. Another $16 billion is for the National Flood Insurance Program, and $576.5 million is to help with wildfire recovery efforts in California. The bill also provided $1.27 billion for disaster food assistance for Puerto Rico.
Texas lawmakers said that although the current aid package provides money for all of the areas hit by natural disasters, at least $15 billion could be claimed by Texans, who were the first to be hit and file claims through FEMA and the flood insurance program.
So far, the state has benefited mainly from a $15.25 billion emergency appropriation that Congress approved in September. Abbott and other Texas officials estimate that the overall price tag from Harvey will top $100 billion.
‘Bailout’ draws fire
Dissatisfaction with the latest congressional action is not confined to Texas, Florida or Puerto Rico, whose leaders have sparred with Trump over the island’s slow recovery. Conservative Republicans in the House and Senate have railed against the $16 billion in the aid package that is earmarked for the flood insurance program, which is nearly $30 billion in debt.
Conservative groups like Heritage Action have termed the spending as a “bailout” that subsidizes continued building in flood-prone areas. In the House, 69 Republicans voted against the aid package, including six from Texas.
FEMA aid deadline
Meanwhile, Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz joined Cornyn on Monday in urging Texans impacted by Harvey to register with FEMA in order to qualify for federal disaster assistance by the agency’s new Nov. 24 deadline, which has been extended 31 days from its earlier October 24 deadline.
The Federal Housing Administration also announced Monday that it is extending its initial 90-day foreclosure moratorium for FHA-insured homeowners impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria for an additional 90 days due to the extensive damage and continuing needs in hard-hit areas.