President Trump on Thursday signed a long-delayed $19.1 billion disaster aid bill to help areas devastated by storms and flooding, overcoming months of infighting and a feud between the commander-in-chief and congressional Democrats.
“Just signed Disaster Aid Bill to help Americans who have been hit by recent catastrophic storms. So important for our GREAT American farmers and ranchers. Help for GA, FL, IA, NE, NC, and CA. Puerto Rico should love President Trump. Without me, they would have been shut out!” Trump tweeted from his golf club in Ireland after attending D-Day anniversary ceremonies in France.
Lawmakers gave the measure final approval Monday by 354-58 in the House’s first significant action after returning from a 10-day recess.
It was backed by all 222 voting Democrats and 132 Republicans, including the GOP’s top leaders and many of its legislators from areas hit by hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and fires.
Fifty-eight Republicans voted “no,” including many of the party’s most conservative members, and a number who clamored for aid for their own districts following natural disasters.
Trump had hailed passage of the bill after it passed the House, tweeting, “Farmers, Puerto Rico and all will be very happy.”
The Senate had already passed the bill by a sweeping 85-8 vote on its way out of Washington May 23, a margin that reflected a consensus that the measure was long overdue.
But conservative Republicans in the House held up the bill last week, objecting on three occasions to efforts by Democratic leaders to pass the bill by a voice vote requiring unanimity.
They said the legislation — which reflects an increasingly permissive attitude in Washington on spending to address disasters that sooner or later hit every region of the country — shouldn’t be rushed through without a recorded vote.
The measure initially was held up over a fight between Trump and Democrats over aid to Puerto Rico, with the president complaining that the US territory had already gotten enough relief.
The legislation was largely driven by Florida and Georgia lawmakers steaming with frustration over delays in delivering help to farmers, towns and military bases slammed by hurricanes last fall.
Flooding in Iowa and Nebraska this spring added to the coalition behind the measure, which delivers much of its help to regions where Trump supporters dominate.
With AP
