Sen. Cornyn: ‘Inadequate' House Disaster Relief Bill ‘totally Ignored' Texas Request

WASHINGTON -- The $36.5 billion disaster relief bill passed by the House last week is “inadequate," Texas Sen. John Cornyn said Tuesday.He’s now pushing for the Senate to do more for Texas and other storm-ravaged areas as it takes up the emergency spending bill later this week, he said.Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, didn't elaborate what the changes to the bill could entail, saying that's "a work in progress as I speak." The measure could come up for a vote by Friday, he said.Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott slammed the Texas House delegation over the emergency bill, accusing the lawmakers of lacking a "stiff spine" in negotiations over the latest round of relief funding, which omitted his recent $18.7 billion request for Hurricane Harvey-specific aid. The House bill also bypassed a $27 billion request from Florida lawmakers.   Continue reading...