First-term Rep. John Rose, declaring it was “absolutely, without a doubt, wrong” to pass a $19.1-billion disaster relief bill without a roll call vote, blocked House action on Thursday on the legislation, which includes $3 billion for agricultural aid. The House is expected to pass the bill next week when members return from recess, and send it to President Trump to sign.
House Democratic leaders tried three times to pass the disaster bill during so-called pro forma sessions in the past eight days but were blocked each time by conservative Republicans. On Thursday, it was Rose, of Tennessee, who objected to the request by Rep. Dwight Evans, a Pennsylvania Democrat, to pass the disaster bill by unanimous consent.
Rose said it would be “another act of irresponsible big government” to add to the federal debt with only a handful of representatives in attendance. The other Republicans who blocked action on the bill, Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, also raised fiscal objections.
“It is beyond comprehension that anyone would think 15 minutes of fame is worth making disaster victims, like those in flood-battered Tennessee, wait even longer for the help they need,” said House Appropriations chairwoman Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, on social media.
The disaster bill says agricultural aid can include payments to growers who were unable to plant crops or who lost grain stored on their farms to flooding. The bill directs the USDA to parcel out the money in grants to states, which would have broad discretion in fashioning aid programs for their individual needs.