Senate passes disaster aid bill and presses for more down the road

October 24, 2017
Washington

WASHINGTON â€”Â The Senate approved a $36.5 billion disaster relief package TuesdayÂ but pledged to push for more federal aid as soon as next month to help communities still reeling from devastating hurricanes and wildfires.

The measure, approved by the House earlier this month, includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agencyâ€™s Disaster Relief Fund and $576.5 million to help with recovery efforts fromÂ wildfires inÂ some Western states.

The bill also includesÂ $16 billion to relieve some of the debts for the National Flood Insurance Program.Â Â

The measure now goes to President Trump to sign into law.

Itâ€™s the second round of funding to help states and U.S. territories recover in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and from devastating wildfires out West. LawmakersÂ approved a $15.25 billion hurricane relief package in September.

â€œWith these new resources, federal aid workers from FEMA and the rest of the administration can continue their critical recovery operations, including search and rescue missions, debris removal and infrastructure repair as well as providing much-needed assistance to individuals and to families,â€ Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor early Tuesday. â€œThe Senate will also continue doing its part to help the victims recover.â€™â€™

Five weeks after Maria most of Puerto Rico remains an island in the dark

Some lawmakers had pressed for more aid for their statesÂ but backed the relief bill after they said Trump promised support for more federal funds by mid-November.

Senate Majority WhipÂ John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Texans are stillÂ frustrated.

The state was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. He said many still have mold in their homes and thousands are still living in shelters. Many businesses have not reopened, he said.

“The water may have receded, but their troubles have not,”Â he said.

Cornyn and other Texas lawmakers had requested $18 billion for recovery efforts in the state. He said Trump has assured him there will be another round of funding next month that will include more aid for Texas and other states.

“We want to make sure that we’re locking arms,” he said of other lawmakers pushing for aid.

Democrats were also on the Senate floor Tuesday pleading for more disaster aid, particularly for Puerto Rico, where many still don’t have power and drinking water weeks after Hurricane Maria struck.

â€œPeople are getting desperate,â€™â€™ said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who visited Puerto Rico earlier this month.

Nelson pressed for more help for Florida’s citrus growers and the agriculture sector still struggling after the hurricanes.Â He said he and other lawmakers are banking on promises from the Trump administration that more aid is still to come.

“We heard the senator from California making a plea about the wildfires. Youâ€™ve heard this senator make the plea for Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Youâ€™ve heard the Texas delegation make the pleas for Texas,” he said. “We all have to come together in this time of need to pass a robust and comprehensive aid bill, and we hope the White House will be true to its promise that the additional aid, particularly for agriculture, will be put in the November emergency supplemental.”

He said, “There should be absolutely no ambiguity that the federal government intends to provide all the necessary assistance to make our people whole.â€

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., whose state was hard hit by Harvey, said lawmakers will push for more later.

â€œOf course we could use more, but I think this is a start,â€™â€™ he said

Some conservatives had complained about what they called a â€œbailoutâ€™â€™ for the financially strapped national flood insurance program. And others complained the disaster aid was not offset by spending cuts elsewhere.

â€œIf it passes, the politicians and lobbyists will pat themselves on the back for doing a good deed and then move on to the next multi-billion spending opportunity,â€™â€™ Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, said Monday night. â€Meanwhile the people of Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas will be left to pick up the pieces and to deal with the disastrous consequences of this approach.â€™â€™

Contributing: Ledyard King

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Sonia Torres, 60, poses in her destroyed home while Officers of the National Guard of Puerto Rico deliver U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jeff Buchanan, the commander of A police car patrols on a darkened street three weeks Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, left, responsible of the Yanira Rios collects spring water for her house nearly A man fills a generator with gas to power a bar on Community members walk up to their houses after working Dr. Milton Garland, Medical Director for AHF Puerto Israel Gonzales, 84, who was diagnosed with terminal Efrain Diaz Figueroa, right, walks by his sister's Members of the Reyes family clean after their house Reyes family members stand atop a mudslide as they Mud remains in a room of the Reyes family's house in Atabey Nunez, 25, gestures as she talks at El Hamburguer U.S. Army 1st Special Force Command Staff Sgt. Eric A member of the Puerto Rican National Guard delivers A jeep crosses the site of a bridge that was washed Victims of Hurricane Maria carry supplies on Saturday, People cross the site of a bridge that was washed away A woman takes a photo of her child posing with a member Villagers of Paix Bouche, Dominica, gather at the medical Dr. Rey Agard examines a villager as the Delaware Medical Nurse practitioner Beth Sargent examines a patient Richard Agard with the Delaware Medical Relief Team Dr. Rey Agard with the Delaware Medical Relief Team Bennet Remy, a villager of Dos D'Ane arrived back to Monkeys move about on Cayo Santiago, known as Monkey Oil spill containment barriers surround sunk and damaged Daniel Braithwaite prepares to catch a box of M.R.E.'s Local residents of Portsmouth, Dominica hitch a ride Hundreds of people in Portsmouth, Dominica make their Portsmouth, Dominica residents still have no power Marila Leon washes clothes in a river in the wake of Dr. Carlos Gomez Marcial, emergency medical director A US armed forces Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey helps to The last cardiothoracic surgeon working in all of Puerto Trucks delivered rice, water and other items to residents Martin Mejias of New York City, left, talks to a neighbor Damaged and destroyed houses in the neighborhood of A family waits in their home in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico Yulitza Torres swings her friend's child, Yulianis, People wait in line to see a representative of FEMA Possession lost during Hurricane Maria, line a street Aurelio Veltran walks through some of his destroyed Acres and acres of destroyed plantain crops litter Damaged homes and trees stripped of their leaves are
Volunteers help a patient to his feet after treating him in Yabucoa’s, Puerto Rico, where SCORE, a non-profit based in Toledo, Ohio, set up a makeshift medical clinic, Oct. 2, 2017. More than a dozen medical professionals and fourth-year medical students came to the island to help after Hurricane Maria as a part of SCORE, a non-profit based in Toledo, Ohio. Â
Carrie Cochran, The Enquirer via the USA TODAY Network Residents of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, wait in the heat
Aurelio Beltran drives through his plantain fields, which were destroyed by Hurricane Maria, Oct. 2, 2017. Acres and acres of destroyed plantain crops litter the Yabucoa valley — Puerto Rico’s largest plantain-producing region. According to Angel Morales, the president of the farming cooperative in Yabucoa, the valley has three to four thousand acres of plantains. Though they have insurance, not only will plantain farmers make no profit because of Hurricane Maria’s damage, they will lose half of their investment, as it costs about $6 or $7 dollars investment for each plant, and they will receive $3.25 back from insurance when it comes through. Â
Ricky Flores and Carrie Cochran, USA TODAY NETWORK Provendencia Riva Nieves and Ramon Garcia Carrillon Damaged and destroyed houses are seen in the neighborhood Debris blocks the entrance to Capilla San Pablo in Workers from the City of Toa Baja distribute packaged Julia Rivera gets up from the makeshift bed in the Mayda Melendez, left, from the First Medical Relief
Sgt. Jose Castillo of the Puerto Rico National Guard, and Ashley Hernandez give Carmen Bermudez Rosa kisses at the Ruben Rodriguez Figueroa High School’s in Naranjito, Puerto Rico, which is now a makeshift shelter. All of their homes were destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Castillo has been volunteering his time, organizing the residents there to have different duties. “We were strangers when we got here. Now, we are family,” Castillo said. They have been together for a week and started out as strangers. “We are a family,” he said. at a high school in Naranjito, Puerto Rico, about 45 minutes outside of San Juan.Â
Carrie Cochran, The Enquirer via the USA TODAY N Leonid Perez Diaz, 74, a diabetic patient who just Actor and producer Benicio del Toro is stopped by People fill bottles from a stream just outside of Naranjito, Many of the homes have been damaged in the town of A man fills bottles with water from a stream in Comerio, Leonid Perez Diaz rests Saturday afternoon on a cot People from the town of Naranjito gather water from Sgt. Jose Castillo and MP with the Puerto Rico National A electrical crew work on a down power pole on in Puerto Hurricane Maria flattened many of the homes in Naranjito, Families from the town of Naranjito who have become Viktor Rodriguez plays a video game at the shelter San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz (R) hugs Esperanza Margarita Burgos poses for a portrait on Sept. 29, A military aircraft from the Rhode Island National An unloaded United States military aircraft sits on 13-year-old Dereck Laguna accompanies his stepfather Dr. Victor Rivera attends to Carmen Hernandez in a People line up to get on a Royal Caribbean International, Honor guards carry the coffin of policeman Luis Angel Marta Sostre Vazquez reacts as she starts to wade into People sit on both sides of a destroyed bridge that Steven Sands sits outside his home with a flashlight USNS Comfort, the naval hospital ship, leaves the harbor Esmeralda Santaella and Maritza Vega hug as they hang People sweep mud from inside an affected business in A damaged home is seen as people deal with the aftermath People wait in line to collect water piped from a A girl whose parents did not want to be identified A man installs a tarp over a damaged business roof People enjoy a moment at a local bar in the aftermath U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Members of the Puerto Rican National Guard deliver Nelida Trinidad talks about the destruction of her A stuffed animal lays in the ruins of the home of Jose A family washes clothes on the side of the road, utilizing People wait in a line to buy gasoline after the passage Maribel Valentin Espino sits in her hurricane-damaged Jose Trinidad walks on what's left of his home in Montebello, A lone chicken walks amongst dead birds on a poultry Residents at La Perla community in Old San Juan comfort People sit in their apartment on Sept. 25, 2017 with La Perla resident Maritza Rosado stands inside her Residents from La Perla carry a piece of metal through People wait in line to get a flight at the Luis Munoz A damaged home is seen as people deal with the aftermath A resident of La Perla community in Old San Juan rests An American Airlines employee checks a passenger's La Perla resident Ramon Marrero, 76, looks at his battered People line up to get gas as they deal with the aftermath La Perla resident Maria Antonia Perez Rivera looks Trees are reflected in the water in the Buena Vista A woman collects water from a natural spring created Water drains from the Guajataca Dam in Quebradillas, People survey the overflow from Lake Guajataka in San Overflow from the damaged Guajataka River Dam is seen People clean up the debris after Hurricane Maria passed Vehicles drive along a flooded road on Sept. 23, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard MST-2 Annaliese Ennis surveys the U.S. Coast Guard personnel survey the damage to an A pedestrian walks along a barrier next to a flooded People wait in line to purchase petrol in Arecibo, Cars remain on a flooded street in San Juan, Puerto A man rides a bike through high water in Loiza, Puerto Residents stand amid rubble Sept. 22, 2017 in Roseau, A partially collapsed bridge is seen Sept. 22, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard personnel offload relief supplies, Residents dismantle a roof days after Hurricane Maria A resident clears debris, Friday, days after Hurricane Police officers stand guard at a gas station in San National Guard personnel evacuate Toa Ville resident A man wades through a flooded road, past a boat, in An aerial view of Roseau, capital of the Caribbean People sit in their home in El Negro, Puerto Rico, A resident walks on a flooded road after the passing People queue in line to withdraw money from an ATM Residents attempt passage through a flooded road in People waiting line to buy gas are seen in Rio Hondo, Isabella, age 10 rescues her photos from her flooded A woman stands on crutches, Friday, in her house after Slt Dawkins, left, and Slt Marks clear debris at Nanny National Guard personnel offer evacuation to a Toa Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, right, A view of the damage caused by the passage of Hurricane This shows Canefield on the island of Dominica BEFORE A man stands in the flooded street outside his house, Personnel from a FEMA search and rescue crew walk in Sections of Loza, Puerto Rico, flooded badly in the Inhabitants stand in flood water in front of a house People walk across a flooded street in Juana Matos, A man walks past a house laying in flood water from The road to Loza, Puerto Rico, was nearly impassable People walk in a flooded street next to damaged houses A man walks in his house that was destroyed by Hurricane Three men walk between downed power lines in the aftermath A gift shop is damaged as Hurricane Maria crosses Cofrecito A person looks at damaged homes in the La Perla neighborhood A bicyclist rides past a damaged gas station the day A destroyed shack is seen in the Rio Piedras area,
Gerald Ramirez, 5, left, and Deyanery Ramirez, 3, right, look down Calle San Miguel in the La Perla neighborhood on Sept. 21, 2017, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The majority of the island has lost power, in San Juan many are left without running water or cell phone service, and the governor said Maria is the “most devastating storm to hit the island this century.”Â
Alex Wroblewski, Getty Images Damaged homes in the La Perla neighborhood the day A sign from a gas station lies in rubble as Hurricane The Courtyard Marriott Isla Verde in San Juan lost A man rides his motorbike through a flooded street Streets and highways around San Juan were turned into Flooded streets and downed power lines littered San Streets around San Juan were clogged with downed trees A car is stuck in a flooded street in in San Juan, A tree blocks a street in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hurricane A woman covers herself with a plastic bag as she makes People deal with the damage caused by Hurricane Maria A few lights are visible in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Men walk damaged trees after the passage of Hurricane People navigate downed trees and power lines after A woman pushes children as members of the military A resident of the Puerto Nuevo neighborhood walks through Concrete power line poles lie on a highway after the A damaged sail boat washed ashore is seen after the A woman is transported to a shelter by search and rescue Residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico, deal with damage Tree branches cover a street in the aftermath of Hurricane Adriana Rosado, 21, Jorge Diana, 24, and their 2-month Rescue team member Jonathan Cruz cries on the floor Residents seek shelter inside Roberto Clemente Coliseum Members of a rescue team embrace as they wait to assist Trees are toppled in a parking lot at Roberto Clemente A man passes through a door at Roberto Clemente Coliseum Rain and wind hit a parking lot in San Juan, Puerto The flooded waterfront in Fort-de-France, on the French People look at the damage to a restaurant in Le Carbet, A boat lays on its side off the shore of Sainte-Anne Men clear fallen tree branches in a road in the village An uprooted tree covers a small house in the village Winds lash the coastal city of Fajardo as Hurricane People wait for the arrival of Hurricane Maria at the Librada waits for the arrival of Hurricane Maria at Evacuees pray at the Juan Ponce de Leon Elementary A woman closes her property in the coastal area of Residents cover windows as they prepare for a direct Jose Santos, a resident of Barrio Obrero, stocks up People walk by a fallen tree off the shore of Sainte-Anne In San Juan's Condado neighborhood, a mix of tourist
In San Juan’s Condado neighborhood, a mix of tourist hotels and residential neighborhoods, open-air cafeterias served patrons lunch and people went about their business. Cixto CalderÂ—n sold $5 bunches of quenepas, small, sweet lime-like fruits purported to have medicinal qualities, such as stress relief and a cancer combatant, from the trunk of his car.
CalderÂ—n, 57, was later going to ride out the hurricane in his nearby home. “I’m making a little money but this is also a service to the people,” he said. “This will relieve their stress, takes their mind off Maria.”Â
Rick Jervis, USA TODAY These rocks were swept by strong waves onto a road Men remove boats from the water ahead of Hurricane Heber Hernandez, a store owner who has lived and worked Members of the Guadeloupe Adapted Military Service This is a flooded street in Pointe-a-Pitre after the Residents nail a board over a window in Trois-Rivieres, Men board up buildings ahead of Hurricane Maria in People look at the ocean in Basse-Terre, on the French Motorists fill their cars at a gas station in the north A man carries water bottles as people buy provisions Men remove a boat from the water ahead of Hurricane Marta Sostre Vazquez reacts as she starts to wade into Steven Sands sits outside his home with a flashlight SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - SEPTEMBER 28: People line People affected by Hurricane Maria wait in line to HAMPTON, VA - SEPTEMBER 29: USNS Comfort, the naval Honor guards carry the coffin of policeman Luis Angel People sweep mud from inside an affected business in TOA BAJA, PUERTO RICO - SEPTEMBER 29: A damaged home People sit on both sides of a destroyed bridge that A girl whose parents did not want to be identified A man installs a tarp over a damaged business roof People enjoy a moment at a local bar in the aftermath CHERRY POINT, NC - SEPTEMBER 27: In this U.S. Navy LARES, PUERTO RICO - SEPTEMBER 29: Members of the

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