Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called on the Senate Tuesday to pass a disaster aid package before the Memorial Day recess, Politico reported.
“We need to get this done,” McConnell said at a late afternoon news conference.
The stalled disaster aid package, which includes critical recovery funding for several military installations across the U.S., is caught up over differences with Democrats’ funding level request for Puerto Rico and President Trump’s demand to border-related projects.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and ranking member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) shared optimism last week a deal was close on the $17 billion package.
But earlier Tuesday Shelby said intensifying complaints from both parties were impeding a final deal, as ADC reported.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) placed blame on President Trump for the delay.
“It was all on the road to being solved when President Trump came in and said ‘don’t give aid to Puerto Rico,’” Schumer said Tuesday.
Ten governors wrote to the White House and congressional leaders urging them to pass disaster relief aid.
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