The House finally passed a $19.1 billion disaster aid package Monday night, ending a long-delayed stalemate over recovery funding needed after a series of natural disasters over the past year, Roll Call reported.
The package, which passed with bipartisan support, was approved by the Senate before the week-long Memorial Day recess, but then became stalled over House procedural hurdles. It received a 354-58 vote Monday evening and now heads to the president for his signature.
During the recess the Democrat-led House attempted three times to pass the bill by unanimous consent, but each time a GOP lawmaker blocked approval with objections that a costly spending bill deserves a recorded vote by the entire chamber. They also said it should have included money for the crisis at the southern border.
The package includes $3.2 billion to rebuild military installations and Coast Guard facilities that were damaged by extreme weather events in the past year.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., suffered $3.6 billion in damage from Hurricane Florence in September, and in October Hurricane Michael caused an estimated $3 billion in damage to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
In March, major Missouri River flooding struck Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., causing $420 million in damage. Those bases and others have been awaiting recovery funds as some repair work has been halted, as On Base has reported.
Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Ethan Green