Senate passes $15B disaster aid measure

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly backed a $15.3 billion aid package for victims of Harvey, nearly doubling President Donald Trump’s emergency request, and adding a deal between Trump and Democrats to increase America’s borrowing authority and fund the government into December.

The 80-17 vote sends the package to the House for a vote today, though GOP conservatives are chafing at the inside-Washington maneuvering and painful debt-limit vote.

But with emergency accounts running out of money and Hurricane Irma barreling toward the East Coast, the measure appears set to easily pass. Trump will sign it.

The must-do legislation would also provide money to government agencies through Dec. 8, eliminating the threat of a government shutdown when the new fiscal year starts next month.

Thursday’s vote came a day after Trump stunned GOP leaders by siding with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, by backing a short-term extension to the debt- limit increase and the spending bill.

In other developments, Trump also pressed ahead on making deals with Democrats, acting on a request from Pelosi on immigration. Pelosi told reporters that Trump tweeted a message at her request to make clear that the “Dreamers” wouldn’t be deported during the six-month period that Congress has to act.