FEDERAL FUNDING/LEGISLATION/NATURAL DISASTERS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump Thursday [6-6-19] signed a package that would deliver $19.1 billion in disaster relief to communities across the country that are still recovering from a spate of catastrophic hurricanes, wildfires and flooding. The House passed the bill, H.R. 2157 (116), on Monday [6-3-19] after Republicans successfully thwarted three attempts to fast-track the package. The Senate passed the bill before the Memorial Day recess, removing Trump’s request for billions in emergency border aid in a last-minute scramble because it was holding up the deal. The legislation was delayed for months prior to that amid partisan infighting. The more than 70-page bill includes $600 million in nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico, in addition to $304 million in new Community Development Block Grant funding for the island and language ensuring that Puerto Rico can access billions in already-appropriated CDBG funds that Democrats accused the Trump administration of slow-walking. It provides $3 billion for farmers to help cover crop losses, $1.6 billion to help repair damaged highways, $720 million for the U.S. Forest Service to help cover wildfire suppression efforts and $120 million to help the National Park Service repair damaged public lands.”
–Caitlin Emma, “Trump signs long-stalled $19.1B disaster relief bill,” Politico, June 6, 2019 2:25 pm