Richard Shelby says disaster relief package from Senate Democrats likely to fail

Senate Democrats on Tuesday released a new $16.7 billion disaster relief package, after the Senate had blocked competing plans to assist victims of recent hurricanes, floods, and wildfires a day earlier amid a standoff over how much money to give Puerto Rico to recover from 2017 hurricanes.

The Democrats’ new package includes $2.5 billion in additional funding for communities in the southeast and midwest struck by more recent disasters like tornadoes and flooding — items Republicans said were left out of a $14.2 billion package the Democrat-led House passed earlier this year.

“Democrats are ready to stand with all American communities affected by recent natural disasters. We hope Republican leadership will stand with us in this effort,” said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer.

But Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby cast doubt Tuesday on the prospects for a quick solution.

The Senate failed to move forward Monday on both a $13.45 billion package Mr. Shelby had offered and the $14.2 billion House-passed plan.

“We’re hoping to get an agreement. Is it imminent? It doesn’t look like it,” said Mr. Shelby, Alabama Republican.

Mr. Shelby said he thinks that “at some point,” lawmakers will pass a disaster relief package “unless the Democrats are just going to say no.”

“We laid down a pretty good package. They want other things that the president’s not going to sign, or at least he says he’s not,” he said.

President Trump has complained recently that money is being wasted by officials on the island.

The Democrats’ latest offer includes about $600 million for nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico, in line with Mr. Shelby’s proposal.

But it also includes additional money for Puerto Rico and states affected by recent disasters, along with language mandating that the administration speed up releasing previously-approved disaster money, some of which is supposed to go to Puerto Rico.