The bipartisan $19.1 billion disaster aid bill stalled again Thursday when for the third time a GOP lawmaker objected to a request to approve the package by unanimous consent, CQ reported.
Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) blocked the latest request, following previous procedural objections by Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).
“This is absolutely, without a doubt wrong,” Rose said in blocking the latest request. He objected to the approval of nearly $20 billion in spending while the majority of lawmakers were out of Washington.
The package, which gained approval from both the Senate and President Donald Trump late last week, is now expected to pass the House when lawmakers return Monday.
The long-delayed disaster relief package includes $3.2 billion to rebuild military bases and Coast Guard facilities that have sustained extensive damage from natural disasters in the past year.
Army photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Thomas
Post-Leadership, McConnell Plans to Push for More Defense Funding
When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell steps down from his Senate leadership role after the November elections, he’ll have at least two more years in the Senate. Now he’s signaled one of his priorities as a rank-and-file Senator is to increase defense funding,...