Senate moves ahead with another $36.5 billion in disaster aid

October 23, 2017
Washington

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The commander of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers says that restoring power to Puerto Rico ‘ a massive logistics challenge.’ (Oct. 20)
AP

WASHINGTONÂ â€”Â The Senate is moving forward on a disaster aid package this week, despite concerns from some lawmakers that it would â€œbail outâ€’Â the struggling federal flood insurance program and doesnâ€™t include enough money to help states recover from devastating hurricanes.

The Senate agreed Monday to take upÂ a $36.5 billion bill with a final vote possibly as early as Tuesday. If approved, it would be the second installment of disaster aid for states and U.S. territories hard hard hit by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and wildfires in the West. And this may not be the last disaster relief bill Congress takes up this year.

LawmakersÂ approved a $15.25 billion hurricane relief package in September in the days after Hurricane Harvey left much of Houston underwater and as Hurricane Irma was raging through the Caribbean on its way toÂ Florida.

â€œThe Senate remains committed to doing its part to support the ongoing hurricane relief efforts,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,Â said on the Senate floor Monday. â€œVictims of these hurricanes continue to count on our support.”

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, also urged bipartisan support for the disaster aid legislation, calling it theÂ â€œnext step to the road to recovery.”

â€œMillions of Americans all over the country, the Americans in Puerto Rico, the Americans in the Virgin Islands, they need us to work together to help lift them up,” Leahy said on the Senate floor Monday.Â â€œThis is not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is an American issue. This is who we are as a country â€” we hold together.”

The House approved a $36.5 billion aid package earlier this month to help states and U.S. territories recover in the wake of devastating hurricanes and wildfires.Â It included $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.

“Now,Â it’s our turn,” McConnell said. â€œThese resources will ensure that FEMA and the rest of the administration have the ability to continue their crucial support to help those impacted by devastating storms.”

The House bill also includedÂ $16 billion to relieve some of the debts for the National Flood Insurance Program.Â Some conservatives in the House voted against the measure, complaining about what they called a â€œbailoutâ€™â€™ for the financially strapped NFIP.

It faced similar criticism in the Senate.

â€œI think it causes trouble period if you load a bill up bailing out anything â€” banks, bailing out flood insurance programs â€¦ Thatâ€™s not just disaster relief,”Â Sen. Richard Shelby, a top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, said last week. â€œI have real problems with that kind of stuff.”Â

Trump gives his team ‘a 10’ on Puerto Rico response

Who will rebuild Puerto Rico as young professionals leave island after Hurricane Maria?

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas,Â whose state was hard hit by Harvey,Â raised concerns last week that $18 billion the Lone Star State’sÂ governorÂ said Texas needs wasÂ not included in the disaster bill.

â€œIn talking to a number of my colleagues from Florida, some from out West where the wildfires are creating a lot of devastation, I think thereâ€™s some interest in seeing whether the Senate should add to what the House has done,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn told Texas reporters last Thursday that President Trump has assured him those concerns will be addressed in another measure later this year.

It’s not clear yet whether otherÂ funding will be added to the Senate bill. Conservative groups, including Heritage Action, have urged lawmakers to vote against the measure because it does not force broader changes in the flood program and does not cut other spending to offset the costs.

Florida lawmakers have also been pushing for more aid to help the stateâ€™s devastated citrus industry.Â The funding was not included in the House version of the bill either.

Florida Sens. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, and Marco Rubio, a Republican, unsuccessfully attempted Monday to add an amendment to provide $3 billion aid for citrus growers and Florida agriculture in the Senate package.

â€œWeâ€™ve been pushing so hard to get our citrus growers some help,â€™â€™ Nelson said on theÂ Senate floor.

McConnell rejected the effort, calling the relief effortÂ a multi-stage process and promising more aid is coming. â€œThere will be additional rounds,â€™â€™ he said.

Nelson said he placed a hold on Trumpâ€™s nominee for deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget for assurance.Â

Rubio said he also hopes the aid is included in another package next month.

â€œBut we all know how this place works,â€™â€™ he said Monday. â€œI just donâ€™t know why we wouldnâ€™t do it now.â€™â€™

Rubio said last week he’s also concerned that some devastated areas, including Puerto Rico, need more help now.

He saidÂ the bill does not do enough to allow the island “to access the funds quickly and continue basic government operations.”

Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., said he’s focused on efforts outsideÂ the federal government, including working with groups in California to help Puerto Rico rebuild its electric grid.

Much of the power on the island has not been restored and many residents still donâ€™t have safe drinking water after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Meanwhile, he said, Congress should help.

â€œI think itâ€™s important that we be responsive from here,”Â said Carper, adding that the Bible urges helping your neighbors. â€œThey are our neighbors. Theyâ€™re also Americans.”

The administration and federal emergency management officials have come under fire for what some have called their slow response to recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.

Trump, who met last Thursday with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo RossellÃ³, rated the administrationâ€™s response a 10.

â€œI think we’ve done a really great job,”Â Trump said.

RossellÃ³ praised Trump for quickly declaring an emergency and deploying federal emergency workers to the island.

â€œWe recognize that a lot of business has been done, but a lot still has to be done,â€ he said.Â

Leahy, who also met withÂ RossellÃ³Â last week, criticized Trump on Monday for giving his administration a 10 â€œlike this was a game show.â€™â€™

Leahy rattled off problems still plaguing the island. “This is not reality,”Â he said. â€œThis is the hard part of governing.”

Contributing: Ledyard King, USA TODAY

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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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Senate moves ahead with another $36.5 billion in disaster aid

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