The Senate on Thursday afternoon approved a $19 billion disaster-relief bill to help several states and Puerto Rico recover from hurricanes, floods and wildfires -- after President Trump backed off from his demand that border security money be added to the package. "We expect the bill will pass the House, and the president, despite his protestations, will sign the bill," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. Trump said he would sign the measure while promising that the money he wants for border security will pass soon. It would provide over $600 million in nutrition assistance and $304 million in aid for Puerto Rico, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Disaster aid packages are almost always bipartisan, but the bill was held up for months over failed negotiations over border security and funding for Puerto Rico, which Trump opposed.

Source: Fox News May 23, 2019 20:49 UTC