House lawmakers unveiled a bill yesterday that would provide $36.5 billion in emergency funding for hurricane and wildfire relief requested by the Trump administration, Bloomberg News reported. With Congress under pressure to provide urgent help to storm victims in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, the House measure includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund, as well as $16 billion to replenish the nation’s flood insurance program. The legislation would also give Puerto Rico access to a $4.9 billion low-interest Treasury loan so it doesn’t run out of cash as the island recovers. That funding is needed to help the territory pay government salaries and other expenses after Oct. 31. The bill is expected to be voted on by the full House later this week and then taken up by the Senate as early as next week.
