A single Republican House member temporarily blocked fast-track passage Friday of a $19 billion disaster-aid plan, likely meaning lawmakers will vote when they return in early June from a week-long recess.
Freshman Representative Chip Roy of Texas objected to the House’s plan to pass the measure without a recorded vote, a day after almost all members left Washington for their home districts. The House is scheduled to return on June 3 and will be able to hold a roll-call vote.
The measure, H.R. 2157 -- which would aid areas hit by hurricanes, Midwest floods and California wildfires -- already has been held up for about six months in a disagreement over funds for Puerto Rico.
The legislation also provides $3 billion in aid for farmers, including payments to producers prevented from planting crops by this year’s Midwestern floods, or who lost crops in storage because of the flooding.
Roy said on the House floor there’s “no reason” why the bill shouldn’t also include border funds sought by President Donald Trump. In addition, he said, “This is a $19 billion bill that is not paid for” by cuts elsewhere in the budget.
“The people’s House should vote” on the bill, Roy told reporters.
The Senate passed the measure on Thursday, and the House had planned to send it to Trump on Friday. The president said he supported it, dropping his demand to add funds to deal with the influx of migrants at the U.S. border with Mexico.
It passed 85- 8 in the Senate and had Trump's backing.
