Senate Disaster Funding Fails Over Puerto Rico Aid Debate

Washington, DC - On Monday the Senate failed to pass disaster relief funding to benefit Americans impacted by wildfires, hurricanes, flooding and other natural disasters. Republicans and Democrats clashed over recovery aid amounts for Puerto Rico and two separate proposals could not muster enough votes for passage."The Senate must work together and pass a disaster relief package that ensures Americans from Iowa to Puerto Rico get the recovery aid they need," stated Eric LeCompte the Executive Director of Jubilee USA, a religious development group. "Because of the Senate's inability to take action, over a million vulnerable people in Puerto Rico lost food assistance benefits last month. The Senate must move forward a disaster relief package immediately." As Puerto Rico disaster aid continues to be debated, additional relief monies are on hold for Americans suffering from disasters in Nebraska, Iowa, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia.