BUDGET/CRISIS: “The White House on Friday [11-17-17] said it had asked Congress for $44 billion in supplemental disaster assistance to help those hurt by recent hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, far short of the aid some officials have called for.
The White House said it expected to seek additional funds after a fuller analysis. U.S. Representative Frank Pallone and Senator Ron Wyden, both Democrats, called the request a dereliction of duty by the Trump administration to American citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that need our help…
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello asked for $94.4 billion to rebuild the U.S. territory’s infrastructure. Texas was seeking $61 billion and Florida had asked for $27 billion.
The $44 billion would be in addition to about $50 billion Congress previously approved for hurricane and disaster relief.
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan that the $44 billion ‘does not represent the final request’ for assistance for the victims, especially in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where needs were still being assessed.”
-David Shepardson, “White House seeks $44 billion hurricane aid, far short of requests,” Reuters, Nov. 17, 2017 09:20am