Houston Chronicle: Senate Ups Hurricane Harvey Relief Package To $15 billion

“This funding will serve as an initial first step towards helping Texans begin the process of rebuilding. I’ll continue to work with federal, state, and local officials to ensure Texas…”

Houston Chronicle – Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate upped the Hurricane relief package to $15.25 billion Thursday, almost doubling the $7.85 billion in aid approve a day earlier by the House.

“As the waters recede and folks return to their communities, Texans are still trying to take stock of the damage left by Harvey,” said Texas U.S. Rep. John Cornyn, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate. “This funding will serve as an initial first step towards helping Texans begin the process of rebuilding. I’ll continue to work with federal, state, and local officials to ensure Texas gets the resources we need to recover from this devastating hurricane.”

The Senate move came as Hurricane Irma, one of the largest storms on record, approaches the Florida coast.

“The recovery effort for a record-setting storm like Harvey has strained resources to the limit already,” said GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. “The advance of another historic storm now makes the need for action even more urgent…. “Let’s work together to act on this legislation quickly.”

The new funding, attached to legislation to keep the government funded and raise the debt ceiling, is expected to come to a vote on Friday.

Senate ups Hurricane Harvey relief package to $15 billion
Houston Chronicle-September 7, 2017
http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Senate-ups-Hurricane-Harvey-relief-package-to-15-12179816.php