Last Thursday, Georgians devastated by Hurricane Michael finally got the news they had been waiting 8 months to hear — that the U.S. Senate had passed a long-awaited bipartisan disaster aid package after reaching a last-minute deal with President Donald Trump. They also had been told that the President was expected to sign it.
A day after the 85-8 Senate vote, everything stalled. Many lawmakers had already left town to begin a week-long Memorial Day recess when the bill passed Thursday. That meant a normal vote was not possible, so the House attempted to pass the bill through unanimous consent. The procedural vote required the consent of every House member, and Texas House Republican Rep. Chip Roy did not approve, blocking the attempt to pass the $19.1 billion disaster aid bill by unanimous consent, and likely stalling passage of the legislation until Congress returns in June.
Members of the Georgia delegation in Washington have been working to secure relief funding for Georgia and other states impacted by hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. And many took to social media Friday to express their disappointment and scorn.
Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA-10) tweeted “Procedural concerns lodged are valid, but the facts remain the same – our farmers need aid today. I stand with @POTUS @realDonaldTrump in support of the bill to provide disaster relief for our #agriculture community. Should have happened months ago.”
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA- 08) tweeted, “While political games over disaster assistance continue as a Member from TX blocked a package from getting to @POTUS desk today, one thing is clear: This bill has broad support & will advance when the House reconvenes & will be signed into law by POTUS the first week of June.”
Georgia’s Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA-2), who one day earlier praised the Senators for their actions, and vowed to work to get the package through the House, tweeted, “It’s disheartening to hear that the expected disaster relief, that was on its way to President Donald J. Trump’s desk, has been delayed yet again. However, I am hopeful that the House will pass this vital piece of legislation next week!”
Rep. David Scott (D-GA-13) in a release called the move “a shame and a disgrace,” going on to blast Roy, saying he “should hold his head down in shame for this disgraceful and un-American act of holding up this badly needed financial help.”
Reports indicated that Roy objected to the bill because it “spends $19 billion of taxpayer money without members of Congress being present in our nation’s Capitol to vote on it.” He also said the package should include money for the Department of Homeland Security to address immigration issues at the southwest border.
The $19.1 billion disaster relief package includes $3 billion to provide critical agriculture disaster relief for farmers recovering in the wake of Hurricane Michael, along with additional funds for communities in Georgia and other states.
