BORDER/FEDERAL FUNDING/GOP/NATURAL DISASTERS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Republicans senators say President Donald Trump has agreed to a $19.1 billion disaster aid bill, providing relief to a country beset by devastating floods, wildfires and hurricanes without funding for the border that the President had sought. Late Thursday [5-23-19], the President tweeted his approval of the measure: ‘The U.S. Senate has just approved a 19 Billion Dollar Disaster Relief Bill, with my total approval. Great!’ The Senate passed the measure Thursday afternoon by a vote of 85 to 8. The House is expected to pass it Friday [5-24-19] and key Republican lawmakers say Trump has agreed to sign it. Congress will be out for recess next week. It took months for Congress and the White House to strike a deal, as negotiations between Republicans and Democrats stalled over funding to address the humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexico border and how to rebuild Puerto Rico two years after Hurricane Maria hit the US territory. The legislation is crucial to all corners of the country.”
–Alex Rogers, Phil Mattingly and Ted Barrett, “Deal struck to pass $19 billion disaster relief package without border funds,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, May 23, 2019 9:42 pm