Disaster Aid Funding Found

The congressional fight over disaster funding that had the potential to partially shut down the government has been diffused.

The Obama administration told lawmakers that the immediate infusion of $1 billion in disaster money for the Federal Emergency Management Agency wasn't needed to avoid a cutoff this week. The Senate leaders then moved quickly to remove the money from a pending Democratic measure and instead pass bare-bones legislation to avert a government shutdown at week's end.

That measure, approved by the Senate on a 79-12 vote, would keep the government running until mid-November.

In a joint statement, Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Patrick Leahy said that they fought to ensure that the agreement maintains disaster funding without forcing cuts in other needed programs. And they say they'll continue to work with Congressman Peter Welch and Governor Peter Shumlin to make certain that Vermonters get the help they need.

The House appears likely to endorse that measure next week when it returns from a weeklong recess.