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Trump Signs $15B Disaster Relief Package

President Donald Trump signed into law a $15 billion disaster relief package just hours after it passed the House on Friday.

The relief package came as Hurricane Irma sweeps through Florida and clean-up efforts from Hurricane Harvey are quickly running out of money. Congress took just three days to push the legislation through.

The bill includes a deal with Democrats to extend overall government funding over the short-term and raise the debt ceiling.

The disaster relief package includes $7.4 million to assist Hurricane Harvey victims, $7.4 billion in community block grants for all disasters in 2017, and $450 million for the SBA (Small Business Administration) to assist small businesses in getting back up and running.

The flood insurance program has also been extended through December.

Trump’s deal with the Democrats has frustrated some Republicans and comes at a time when the president has been publicly criticizing the GOP.

On September 8, the president tweeted: “Republicans, sorry, but I’ve been hearing about Repeal & Replace for 7 years, didn’t happen!”

Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry opposed the package because of the short-term additions from Democrats. A total of 90 Republicans voted against the measure, despite White House budget director Mick Mulvaney and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging the GOP to vote for the measure.

“There were probably a lot of members in there in disbelief,” said Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.). “I do know that there is a lot of frustration with the deal that was cut by the president, and I think it’s a very difficult pill for many in there to swallow.”

Republicans fear the consequences of raising the debt ceiling over the short-term.

“I love President Trump, and I’m with him probably 90 or 95 percent of the time, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to raise the debt ceiling with $19 trillion public debt and not have any effort to change the way we spend money here in Washington,” said Texas Rep. Joe Barton, who voted against the measure.