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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 2 april 2019

Disaster aid stalls in Senate amid fight over Puerto Rico

By ANDREW TAYLOR Republicans backed him cans when there’s a disas- ricane-damaged military where near the urgency
Associated Press up — for now — in deny- ter, wherever the disaster bases in Florida and North these Americans deserve. It
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- ing Democratic demands strikes. We do not abandon Carolina would receive re- is the only bill on the table
ate Democrats on Mon- with any provision for the
day blocked a Republican Midwest flooding,” McCon-
disaster aid bill, saying it nell said.
doesn’t do enough to help “And it’s the only bill on
hurricane-torn Puerto Rico. the table that could earn
The move tossed long- a presidential signature in
sought relief for victims time to deliver urgent relief
of hurricanes, floods and on the nutrition assistance
western wildfires into limbo. in Puerto Rico.”
The vote escalated a fight The political momentum
between Democrats and for the measure — strongly
President Donald Trump, backed by Trump’s allies
who opposes further re- in Georgia, Florida and
building aid for the U.S. is- North Carolina, among
land territory, which was other states — has only
slammed by back-to-back been heightened by mas-
hurricanes in 2017. sive flooding in Midwestern
The 44-49 vote fell short of states such as Nebraska
a majority, much less the and Iowa, whose nominat-
60 votes required to over- ing caucuses are the first
come a Democratic fili- test for Democrats hoping
buster. It sent GOP leaders to challenge Trump next
back to the drawing board year. The GOP measure
but seemed unlikely to kill would make Midwestern
disaster aid efforts outright, states eligible for more aid,
since there is much politi- and by blocking the bill,
cal support to send aid to Democratic presidential
Southern farmers, wildfire- contenders in the Senate
ravaged California towns In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, Ramon Alicea Burgos walks past his palm tree, with its top broken are likely to face criticism.
and Midwestern flood vic- off one year ago by Hurricane Maria one outside his partially rebuilt home in the mountain town Trump has yet to veto a
tims. of Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. spending bill despite some
Trump allies such as Sens. Associated Press tough talk, and he has
David Perdue, R-Ga., signed off on $600 million
and Rick Scott, R-Fla., are for more aid to rebuild its them. Period,” said Minority building funds. to ease food stamp cuts in
among the strongest back- badly damaged water sys- Leader Chuck Schumer, D- Democrats want to add al- Puerto Rico.
ers of the legislation, which tems and to ease the re- N.Y. most $700 million more to “I have taken better care
has already faced signifi- quirement that Puerto Rico Trump weighed in on Twit- unlock further disaster aid of Puerto Rico than any
cant delays. financially match a por- ter Monday to preemp- for Puerto Rico and sev- man ever. We have $91
“We will get this done tion of the federal govern- tively attack Democrats for eral states, including help billion going to Puerto
eventually,” Perdue said, ment’s aid contribution. blocking the measure. to rebuild badly damaged Rico. We have $29 billion
promising relief to strug- Democrats say Trump has “Democrats should stop water systems. Democrats to Texas and $12 billion to
gling farmers in his state. been slow to release al- fighting Sen. David Per- are also trying to force the Florida for the hurricane,”
The path forward is not ready-appropriated fund- due’s disaster relief bill. They administration to release Trump said last week. “They
clear, but a leading option ing for Puerto Rico and has are blocking funding and billions of dollars in rebuild- have to spend the money
is for the Senate to pass a exhibited little urgency in relief for our great farmers ing funds that have already wisely. They don’t know
much more narrowly drawn helping the island. Trump and rural America!” Trump been approved. how to spend the money
bill simply to get the issue poor-mouthed the island’s tweeted. Senate Majority Leader and they’re not spending it
into a House-Senate con- government at a meeting The $13.5 billion Senate Mitch McConnell said the wisely.”
ference committee. House with Senate Republicans measure mostly mirrors measure is the fastest way Trump’s $91 billion estimate,
Democrats insist the talks last week and suggested a $14.2 billion measure to get aid to the hurricane- said a White House spokes-
must produce a final mea- Puerto Rico has gotten too passed by the House in slammed South and the man, includes about $50
sure with help for Puerto much disaster help com- January, combining aid to badly flooded Midwest, billion in expected future
Rico. pared with states such as Southern farmers, California along with nutrition aid to disaster disbursements,
The amount of money in Texas, using inflated num- communities devastated Puerto Rico, where food along with $41 million that’s
dispute is relatively small, bers to make his case. by last summer’s wildfire, stamp benefits have al- already been approved.
but Trump feels antipa- “Just as we leave no soldier and hurricane-hit states ready been cut. Actual aid to Puerto Rico
thy toward Puerto Rico’s behind on the battlefield, such as Florida, Georgia “It’s our only sure path to has flowed slowly from fed-
government and Senate we help our fellow Ameri- and North Carolina. Hur- making a law with any- eral coffers.q