House conservatives blocked a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill from clearing Congress, the second time in a week the proposal has failed to reach President Trump’s desk.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus, a fiscally conservative faction of the GOP, were present in the House chamber Tuesday afternoon when Democrats attempted to pass the disaster relief bill by unanimous consent, which doesn’t require a roll call vote.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., made the objection, arguing a roll call vote should be held on the measure.
“If the speaker of this House felt that we must pass this legislation, the speaker of the House should have called a vote on this bill before sending every member of Congress on recess for 10 days,” Massie said.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., also present in the chamber, urged Massie to drop his objection to the bill, which he said “needs to be passed as soon as possible for the welfare of the people in this country who have been attacked by natural disasters.”
Massie’s objection came four days after Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, another Freedom Caucus member, blocked the bill during Friday’s brief pro forma session.
Roy cited the steep cost of the bill as well as the lack of funding to alleviate the immigration surge along the southern border.
Democrats forced Trump to withdraw a request to include $4.4 billion to help government officials deal with the surge.
The GOP objection comes despite leaders in both parties agreeing to pass the spending measure by unanimous consent, which does not require a roll call vote.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned the move, which blocked a deal months in the making after bitter partisan fighting.
“If anyone had any doubts about which party is blocking disaster aid, this should erase it all,” Schumer said. “One Republican pops up after the next to prevent disaster-impacted areas from receiving the aid they so desperately need.”
House lawmakers left the Capitol Thursday for a recess and won’t return until June 3. When lawmakers return, they will be able to easily pass the bill with a roll call vote.
The House will hold another pro forma session on Thursday.
