House Republicans on Monday night unveiled legislation that would authorize $81 billion in disaster aid for victims of recent storms, a move that quickly drew backlash from conservatives about its impact on the federal deficit, the Wall Street Journal reported. Republicans said that the bill was aimed at providing help for storm-battered and fire-stricken areas in Texas, Florida, California, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. House Republicans from Texas and Florida praised the aid package, nearly double the $44 billion the White House had requested last month to help states recover this year’s devastating storms. House GOP lawmakers from the two state delegations met yesterday to discuss the deal, which many had said was needed before they would support spending bills that must pass this week to avoid a government shutdown. The government’s current funding expires at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 23.
