$19B Disaster Relief Bill Ready for Trump

June 04--Jun. 4--Workers stand atop a mountain of flood-damaged corn seed at the Bartlett grain elevator in Hamburg, Iowa. The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed a $19.1 billion disaster aid bill that would deliver long-sought relief to farmers and victims of hurricanes and floods Nati Harnik/The Associated Press

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a long-awaited disaster relief bill Monday evening after repeated efforts by Republicans to block its advancement.

The $19.1 billion disaster bill includes funding to several federal departments and agencies for expenses related to recent wildfires, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, typhoons and other natural disasters.

Several areas of the country this year have been battered by extreme weather. Parts of the Midwest and South along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers are still underwater from intensive flooding since mid-March. The Midwest also has seen deadly tornadoes, while the West has been battling wildfires.

The measure passed 354-58, with only Republicans opposed.

The bill has been marred by months of gridlock. It stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate as GOP senators opposed additional funds to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, which President Donald Trump also opposed. Eventually, housing grants and funding for nutrition programs for the island were successfully included by Democrats.

The bill has already passed the Senate, so it's headed to Trump, who is expected to sign it.

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