California Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (left) and Washington Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers listen as Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) talks about Harvey relief efforts after a meeting with House Republicans on Sept. 6. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP
The House overwhelmingly approved a $7.85 billion measure this afternoon for response to Hurricane Harvey, with the goal of landing the legislation on President Donald Trump's desk by week's end.
The aid bill now heads to the Senate, where GOP leaders plan to link it to a separate effort to raise the debt ceiling. But an offer this morning from Democratic leaders has complicated that calculus.
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Trump is aiming to quash growing GOP opposition to the strategy to raise the debt ceiling as part of a Hurricane Harvey relief package, according to multiple House and White House officials. And the House is expected to ultimately approve the deal.
"It's 100 percent the Senate is going to put the debt ceiling on Harvey. It'll come back here, and I think it'll get bipartisan support," Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) said this morning.
Congress aims to deliver the first installment of aid by Friday, when FEMA is expected to run out of emergency dollars.
House Speaker Paul Ryan told GOP lawmakers in a closed-door meeting this morning that they must agree to a funding deal this week, even if it means staying in town through Saturday.
In contrast to the lump sums allocated for past disasters like Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Congress is expected to send multiple aid packages in the coming months to help with Hurricane Harvey recovery — an effort Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has estimated at between $150 and $180 billion.
The disaster relief package was passed on a 419-3 vote, with Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Tom Massie (R-Ky.) voting against it.
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