Congress passed a long-delayed bill to help places recover from past (and future) natural disasters. President Trump is expected to sign it.
After months of delay, Congress passed a $19 billion aid bill on Monday to help places recover from natural disasters that have struck over the last two years — and to help cover costs of the ones yet to come.
As the political infighting wore on this year, more natural disasters — such as flooding in the Midwest and tornadoes in the South — bumped up the price of the legislation by roughly $5 billion. It’s now one of the most sweeping disaster aid packages ever passed and heads to President Trump for his expected signature.
Communities in California, Florida and Texas — which have been ravaged by wildfires, hurricanes and floods — will likely be among the biggest beneficiaries. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein says her state of California is eligible for more than $12 billion. The Texas Tribune reports that the legislation includes a provision to force the federal government to release more than $4 billion to Texas that Congress already allocated to the state a year ago.
GOVERNING.COM
BY LIZ FARMER | JUNE 4, 2019 AT 1:10 PM