Partisan divides complicate push for disaster aid

Lawmakers are navigating partisan divides as they seek to pass a bipartisan disaster aid bill by the end of the year.

Republicans and Democrats appear to agree on the main issue at hand: the need to replenish funds for communities recovering from disasters.

But they disagree on whether to allocate funds toward programs for the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency — creating hurdles for what would otherwise be easily agreed-upon legislation. 

“It needs to be a very robust package. We understand that. We agree with that,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told reporters last week. 

“Where we have some disagreement at this point is some of the programmatic … adds the administration wants and there’s some things we think they left out that they ought to consider,” he said. 

Asked what he would like to see in the package, Cole said “more infrastructure, less programmatic money.”

However, he added that he hopes lawmakers will be able to come up with bill text by the first week in December, with a package passing by the end of the year.

“I think it would be a good way to end this year — is to get out of here with ... a disaster relief bill attached to a CR,” he said, referring to a continuing resolution (CR), a stopgap funding measure that would prevent a government shutdown.

Major storms in recent months, including hurricanes Helene and Milton, have depleted the nation’s Disaster Relief Fund, which pays for response to and recovery from major disasters. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell told lawmakers this week that the fund has dwindled to less than $5 billion. That’s down from $11 billion in October. 

If the fund runs out entirely, the U.S. will still be able to respond to immediate emergencies, but it will not be able to pay for longer-term recovery projects. 

This would hurt efforts to rebuild infrastructure in places like Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas in the wake of the recent hurricanes, as well as Hawaii, which is still recovering from last year’s wildfires. 

This week, the White House put forward a $98 billion proposal to replenish the nation’s disaster aid — jump-starting negotiations on Capitol Hill. 

That bill included $40 billion for the disaster relief fund itself, as well as $24 billion in assistance for farmers, $12 billion for grants through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and $8 billion to repair highways, roads and bridges.

It also contains $4 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency for water system upgrades, hazardous waste cleanup and air monitor repairs; $3 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services for health care and social support in affected areas; and $1 billion for the Department of Education to help restart schools, help with staffing shortages and provide mental health support. 

The top-line figure received a lukewarm reception from Republicans. 

“It’s very clear that we need to have a disaster relief package. Whether $98 billion is the right number or not I don’t know. There’s some provisions that I have questions about,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Others, like Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.), want to see it reduced. 

“I think that, as always, that can probably be pared down a bit, quite a bit,” said the lawmaker, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee. “I think it can be clearly reformed and potentially pared down rather substantially.”

But the GOP took more issue with the specifics.

“I think we need to scrub it and make sure we don't have extraneous things in there for education. … I think some of it will fall out,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), top Republican on the Senate subcommittee that crafts annual funding for the Education Department.

Pressed about the administration’s request for the department, Capito said “those kinds of things, I think we need to really look at, and that's what we're in the process of doing.”

“I think some of it will fall out,” she added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said he would want to add tax cuts to the legislation.

“They don’t include the disaster tax relief which they’ve always done for prior disasters, so that needs to be in there,” he told The Hill. 

It’s also not clear whether disaster aid will be tied to a potential funding stopgap, as leadership continues to plot next steps on spending. 

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said she thinks any forthcoming disaster aid package should move as a stand-alone measure, rather than being tacked on to a larger government funding deal.

“If we could go Dec. 20 and do that, that's possible,” DeLauro told The Hill. But, she added, lawmakers “ought to do the disaster at the earliest possible moment.”

Lawmakers expressed optimism that they would be able to reach an agreement — whatever form it takes.

“I actually have high confidence in [Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.)] and Sen. Collins,” Cole said, referring to the top appropriations senators. 

“Rosa DeLauro and I worked together famously for many, many years. So it’s something we can do,” he added. 

Mychael Schnell contributed.