Senators voted 80-17 Thursday in favor of a bill that provides billions of dollars in Hurricane Harvey relief while simultaneously funding the federal government through December.The measure was part of an unexpected deal struck Wednesday between President Trump and Congressional Democrats to temporarily delay a showdown over the federal government's borrowing limit.
There was little doubt that the bill, which provides $15.3 billion in recovery assistance, would pass. But the divisions ran along partisan lines — every Democrat that voted on the bill was in favor of it, while the 17 Senators who voted against the bill were all Republicans.
Sens. Bob Corker, Steve Daines, Mike Enzi, Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, Jeff Flake, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Mike Lee, John McCain, Jerry Moran, Rand Paul, James Risch, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey all voted against the bill.
Three other Senators, Florida's Marco Rubio, Alaska's Dan Sullivan and New Jersey's Bob Menendez, who is currently on trial for corruption and bribery, did not vote.
This source of this information, quoted above, is a Time magazine article (September 7, 2017) by Alana Abramson.
The House voted 316-90 for the same bill on Friday. The nay votes were all Republican, mostly conservatives, including a large chunk of the House Freedom Caucus.
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While parts of Texas are still submerged from the historic flooding wrought by Hurricane Harvey, four members of Congress who represent the state voted against sending it billions in federal disaster aid.
GOP Reps. Joe Barton, Jeb Hensarling, Sam Johnson and Mac Thornberry all voted no on a $15.25 billion aid package Friday that is on its way to President Trump's desk. Much of that money will boost federal emergency responders and help small businesses and homeowners rebuild. Some of it could go to victims of Hurricane Irma, which is barreling toward Florida this weekend.
The source of this information, quoted above, is a Washington Post article, September 8, 2017, by Amber Phillips
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September 9, 2017
