For the third time in a week, House conservatives blocked a $19.1 billion disaster aid package, chastising lawmakers for attempting to pass a major spending bill with a quick voice vote and without debate.
The move postpones House passage until next week, when House lawmakers return from a recess and can easily pass the measure in a roll call vote.
Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn., blocked the disaster aid bill, which included an extension of the national flood insurance program. Lawmakers then agreed to pass in a separate bill a two-week extension of the national flood insurance program, which has expired.
The disaster aid package represents a bipartisan accord that came after months of partisan fighting and a battle with President Trump over provisions in the bill. Lawmakers struck a deal last week. The Senate passed the bill with overwhelming support last Thursday but the House had already adjourned for recess, which left passage by unanimous consent the only way to get the bill quickly to President Trump’s desk.
The bill would provide disaster aid to states and territories recovering from wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and catastrophic flooding.
House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., called the GOP move to block the bill “beyond comprehension” and an effort to win “15 minutes of fame” while making flood victims in Tennessee suffer.
While Democrats condemned Republicans for blocking the measure but but a group of House conservatives said the size and scope of the bill demand a debate and roll call vote before sending it to the president.
“Our nation is $22 trillion in debt,” Rose said. “Trying to pass nearly $20 billion in new spending while the majority of Congress is not even in Washington represents another act of irresponsible government. This is, without a doubt, wrong.”
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, blocked the bill on Friday and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., objected to its passage on Tuesday. Any lawmaker can object to passing legislation by unanimous consent.
The measure excludes Trump’s request for $4.5 billion in emergency funding to help deal with the recent surge in illegal immigration along the southern border. Removing the border funding eased the agreement. Democrats were opposed to its inclusion, and Trump agreed to leave it out after talks with Republicans on Thursday. Republicans said they’ll attempt to move the border security funding separately.
The measure also includes millions of dollars more for Puerto Rico despite Trump’s argument that the island has already received enough disaster aid.
It provides more than $3 billion for farm crop damage due to storms and nearly $1 billion for the Marine Corps and Air Force to repair bases and restore equipment damaged by recent hurricanes.
It also provides $600 million to the Economic Development Administration to provide grants to areas damaged by storms in 2018 and 2019.
