Senate OKs $15B in hurricane aid

USA TODAY WASHINGTON The Senate passed a $15.25 billion hurricane relief package Thursday that would also increase the nation’s debt limit and fund the government for the next three months.

The bill passed 80-17 and must be approved in the House before it heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

The package is the result of a deal Trump struck with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., against the wishes of his own party leaders, who pushed for a longer-term increase of the debt limit.

It would provide initial emergency funding to respond to disasters caused by hurricanes Harvey and Irma, a Category 5 storm expected to hit Florida. The bill also maintains government operations at current levels through Dec. 8 and extends the debt ceiling and National Flood Insurance Program to that date.

The federal government is running out of borrowing authority, which officials say must be increased to pay for existing obligations, including hurricane relief efforts.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, RWis., said Wednesday that lumping multiple bills together on a short-term basis was “ridiculous,” but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, RKy., said he’d back the package after Trump made the deal.

The House on Wednesday passed a $7.9 billion aid package 419-3 for victims of Harvey. The Senate bill adds $7.4 billion in Community Development Block Grant funding for areas most affected by 2017 disasters.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated 57 percent of the money, or $8.7 billion, would be spent in 2020 or later.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called it “unfortunate” that the bill is tied to an increase in the debt ceiling and a resolution to continue funding the government until mid-December. But he voted in favor of the package, which will provide aid to millions of Texans affected by the hurricane.