A coalition of Senate Republicans from states impacted by recent hurricanes and fires are working to add additional money to a $36.9 billion disaster relief package the Senate will vote on this week.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn told the Washington Examiner lawmakers from Texas, Florida, and California, as well as those who advocate for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, will seek millions of dollars in additional funding for recovery efforts. He did not say specifically how much additional aid is possible, but suggested it would be an amount that could be shared by the affected states and territories.
“There are senators from the states that have been affected by hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Harvey as well as those affected by the wildfires out west that see a need for additional relief,” Cornyn said. “So we are talking about that.”
Cornyn suggested he won’t vote for the House-passed, $39.5 billion package without additional money.
“I can’t in good conscience just sort of wave it through and not take advantage of the opportunity to provide additional relief,” Cornyn, R-Texas, said.
The House bill mainly replenishes the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief fund and partly bails out the insolvent National Flood Insurance Program. It includes a $4.9 billion loan to the nearly insolvent Puerto Rico government will likely never be repaid, lawmakers acknowledge.
The bill excluded funding specifically designated for post-disaster state recovery efforts, and that is what lawmakers are seeking to add to the House-passed bill.
They believe they have the numbers to demand it.
“As you can see, you are talking about delegations from California, Texas, and Florida and some others,” Cornyn said. “That’s a pretty good coalition.”
State lawmakers made formal funding requests earlier this month.
Texas wants $18.7 billion more for help recovering from Hurricane Harvey, which caused extensive flooding.
Florida lawmakers are asked for $27 billion to rebuild counties damaged by Hurricane Irma.
In Puerto Rico, government officials say it will cost $95 billion to rebuild the island, a U.S. territory flattened by Irma and Hurricane Maria.
“We are just talking about what is possible,” Cornyn told the Washington Examiner. “Whatever we would do would benefit all states and territories that are affected, not one.”
Cornyn said he does not believe the House-passed bill can pass the Senate without the extra aid.
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” he said.
