Politics

McConnell Blocks Further Amendments For Disaster Aid Bill

US_Senate | Circa January 2008 | See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons | Pmax7

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took steps to block the addition of more amendments to a pricey disaster aid bill as Democrats call for more money.

Democrats say they will vote against the $13 billion dollar disaster aid bill unless Republicans add funding for Puerto Rico to help them rebuild after the 2017 hurricane. Meanwhile, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby introduced a substitute amendment to the disaster aid package Thursday to help states in the South and Midwest that were hit with flooding and storms, Politico reported.

“The legislation we’re considering this week would help growers and producers with storm-related crop losses,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Thursday morning, in reference to the substitute amendment. “It would help local infrastructure — from roads to schools and hospitals — resume full operation. And it would help our nation’s military restore readiness at bases and installations that were caught in harm’s way.”

Nearly 3,000 people in Puerto Rico died from causes related to Hurricane Maria in 2017. The infrastructure on the island and communications systems were destroyed. Many residents lost power for months and several thousands lost their homes.

Despite the millions of dollars already given to Puerto Rico, many insist the island needs more to rebuild.

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