Puerto Rico

Trump blasts Dems for disaster aid bill block over Puerto Rico funds

President Trump criticized Democrats for voting against a GOP disaster aid bill for Puerto Rico.
Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump on Monday night criticized Democrats for blocking a GOP disaster aid bill because they said funding for Puerto Rico did not go far enough for the hurricane-devastated U.S. territory.

What he's saying: "The Democrats today killed a Bill that would have provided great relief to Farmers and yet more money to Puerto Rico despite the fact that Puerto Rico has already been scheduled to receive more hurricane relief funding than any 'place' in history," Trump began, in the first of a series of tweets on the issue.

Democrats derail Senate disaster relief bill amid clash over Puerto Rico

Two weeks after Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico in 2017.
Two weeks after Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico in 2017. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Senate Democrats on Monday blocked a key vote on a $13.5 billion disaster-recovery funding measure amid an escalating fallout over hurricane-battered Puerto Rico.

Details: The massive bill passed by the House in January would allocate funding to states like Florida and North Carolina, which were hit last year by hurricanes. Senate Republicans have also added funds for victims in the Midwest affected by flooding last month. But Democrats argue that the $600 million for nutrition assistance to Puerto Rico under the bill is insufficient, and that the island is in urgent need of more funds for disaster relief and to rebuild its water system.

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