"House Approves First Installment Of Hurricane Harvey Disaster Aid"

"WASHINGTON — Less than two weeks after Hurricane Harvey started pummeling the Texas Gulf Coast, the House overwhelmingly approved a nearly $7.9 billion recovery aid package on Wednesday for Texas and neighboring Louisiana.

The $7.85 billion package includes $7.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund and $450,000 for the Small Business Administration's disaster loan program. It is only the first tranche of what will likely be tens of billions of dollars in federal aid to the areas hit by Harvey.

The Senate is expected to attach a short-term debt limit extension to the disaster aid package. President Trump endorsed a plan Wednesday proposed by Democratic leaders that would extend the debt ceiling by three months and avoid a government shutdown until December."

Deborah Barfield Berry reports for USA TODAY September 6, 2017.