This is the first time Congress has approved a broad disaster relief package since February 2018. The measure passed Monday will address disasters in the year since: hurricanes in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas, wildfires in California, and floods in the Midwest. Across both chambers, there was widespread relief that the House had finally passed the measure, capping off one of the most laborious approval processes for emergency relief in recent memory. Democrats in both chambers were adamant that the commonwealth, which does not have voting representation in Congress, needed more money. While Republicans pushed for that aid to be included, it was ultimately left out and is likely to be taken up separately or added to another spending bill.

Source: New York Times June 03, 2019 23:09 UTC