House approves $17B disaster aid bill over Trump opposition on Puerto Rico
The House passed a $17.2 billion supplemental disaster relief package Friday in a 257-150 vote despite opposition from President Trump, who urged Republicans to vote against the measure because of what he saw as excessive funding for Puerto Rico.
Trump has argued that Puerto Rico has mismanaged aid already sent to the island after the devastation in 2017 from Hurricane Maria. On Thursday night, he pressed GOP lawmakers to oppose the measure.
“House Republicans should not vote for the BAD DEMOCRAT Disaster Supplemental Bill which hurts our States, Farmers & Border Security,” Trump tweeted.
Thirty-four Republicans voted for the bill despite the president's urgings.
The measure would extend the National Flood Insurance Program through Sept. 30, and provide aid to both Puerto Rico and states in the U.S. hit by flooding and other disasters.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/29/18285367/congress-disaster-relief-trump-puerto-rico A: Thank you to those 34 Republican adults who has empathy for American citizens who are in dire need of federal assistance. From the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2017/sep/27/puerto-rico-debt-recovery