DALLAS (1080 KRLD) - A disaster-aid bill in Congress that would have helped Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey has been blocked.
The $19 billion supplemental appropriations bill sailed through the senate Thursday night, but was stopped by Freshman Republican Chip Roy of the Hill Country. Democratic Freshman Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher of Western Harris County added an amendment to get relief of more than four billion dollars in already appropriated funds to victims of the 2017 hurricane.
"We have people in my district in Houston who are waiting for those funds and we are right around the corner from another hurricane season. I'm really disappointed that one member of congress and member of our delegation from Texas held up the bill."
Roy contended the bill leaves out money needed to address the migrant crisis at the southern border and complained it does not contain any of President Donald Trump's $4.5 billion request for dealing with a migrant refugee crisis in Texas He also objected to speeding the measure through a nearly-empty chamber.
House and Senate lawmakers have already left town for their Memorial Day recess, the move by Roy will probably created a 10-day holdup in delivering aid that has already been delayed for five months.
Fletcher says when it comes to disaster relief "we have differences in Congress, but this is not one of them. This is a place where Republicans and Democrats from Texas come together to help people rebuild along the Gulf Coast." She says President Trump indicated he would have signed the measure.