Democrats Block Disaster Relief Bill Over Funds for Puerto Rico
- Trump urges Republican opposition to more Puerto Rico money
- GOP lawmakers say Democrats holding rural America aid hostage
A vehicle drives through streets filled with floodwater near destroyed homes from Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 25, 2017.
Photographer: Alex Wroblewski/BloombergSenate Democrats blocked a $13.5 billion Republican disaster aid bill, contending it lacks enough aid for Puerto Rico, leaving the Senate without an immediate path forward to provide relief for areas hit by recent Midwest floods, Hurricanes Florence and Michael, and California wildfires.
The aid package, amended last week by Republican Richard Shelby of Alabama, would give Puerto Rico $600 million in nutrition assistance, but it doesn’t contain the same funds the House authorized to bolster flood protection and repair the electrical grid. The Senate failed to advance its version of the bill Monday on a 44-49 vote.