Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could bring disaster aid legislation to the floor even if lawmakers don't reach a deal on the stalled aid package. | Mark Wilson/Getty Images Congress Senate passes massive disaster aid package The bill doesn't include the additional funds Trump sought for the border.

The Senate passed a long-awaited bipartisan disaster aid package on Thursday after reaching a last-minute deal with President Donald Trump.

In an 85-8 vote, the Senate approved a multi-billion dollar disaster aid bill, which will assist states devastated by wildfires, hurricanes and flooding, comes after months of roadblocks.


The stalled aid package had faced several setbacks — including over Trump’s reluctance to provide more money to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. More recently, talks stalled over a White House request for more border funding. The bill does not include the additional border funds the president sought.

Among the Senators who voted against the bill — all Republicans — were Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Crapo of Idaho, James Risch of Idaho, Mike Braun of Indiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Mitt Romney of Utah, Martha McSally of Arizona and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

“We should all know now this president negotiates in a different manner," said Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), the lead sponsor of the disaster aid bill. Perdue, along with Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) spoke with Trump earlier in the day about whether he would support a disaster aid bill that didn't include border funds.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), lamented that it took the Senate as long as it did to get the deal through. "It is ridiculous how hard it is do get things done here," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who blamed Trump for the delay in passage, said Thursday that the disaster aid bill gives enough money to Puerto Rico for disaster relief. He added that the bill passed Thursday was almost identical to legislation he proposed with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

"We can all finally breathe a sigh of relief despite the president saying yesterday he can't work on bipartisan bills," he said. "The main point here is that we insisted that Puerto Rico get the aid it needed along with the rest of America and it is. The second point being that the president interfered twice and slowed it down but couldn't."

Schumer signaled on the Senate floor Thursday morning that Senate Democrats would support a clean disaster aid bill. A senior Democratic aide said that up until Wednesday night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's aides emphasized that border money had to be included in the disaster aid bill.

Although the House has left for a one-week recess, the legislation could theoretically be approved on a voice vote as soon as Friday, after the Senate passes it Thursday. But Republicans are expected to reject a unanimous consent request, forcing the House to wait until June to pass the Senate bill.

Shelby predicted Thursday prior to the deal's announcement that the multi-billion dollar package had a good chance of passing the Senate if it was only about disaster relief.

Seven Senators did not vote Thursday afternoon: Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Democatic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois.

The last-minute deal came hours after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vowed again Thursday that the Senate would not leave Washington before voting on a disaster aid bill.

“It’s past time, way past time to bring these negotiations to a close,” he said. “They need to do this today. Because one way or another, the Senate is not leaving without taking action.”



Sarah Ferris and Caitlin Emma contributed to this report.