The Senate delayed debate on a $13.5-billion disaster assistance bill, which includes flood relief for the western Farm Belt, until next week, with a procedural vote on Monday to determine if the bill will advance. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ordered the so-called cloture vote to prevent a filibuster on the bill, which Democrats want to amend to include more aid to Puerto Rico.
“We’ll have a debate on that next week,” said Sen. Pat Leahy, sponsor of the Democratic version. Both parties agree on $600 million in additional money for Puerto Rico’s food stamp program, which is funded through a block grant and has seen additional demand in the wake of two hurricanes in 2017. Republicans, in line with the White House, oppose additional funding for Puerto Rico. Democrats would include $431 million in cost-share grants for relief projects and $250 million in revolving funds to rebuild water systems.
The disaster bill includes $3 billion in assistance to agricultural producers, including for floods this month in the northern Plains and the western Corn Belt as well as last year’s wildfires in California and hurricanes in the South. The bill also offers $480 million for forest restoration, $125 million for emergency watershed restoration, and $150 million in grants for reconstruction projects in small communities.