(Adds details on funding request, background, adds quote from head of Senate appropriations panel)
WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Congress for an initial $7.85 billion for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, the White House budget director said on Friday, adding that failure to raise the budget ceiling may hinder disaster relief spending.
In a letter to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said the request included $7.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys Disaster Relief Fund and $450 million for the Small Business Administrations disaster loan program.
This request is a down-payment on the presidents commitment to help affected st…
Read the full article at: https://www.reuters.com/article/storm-harvey-aid/update-1-trump-seeks-7-85-bln-for-harvey-relief-warns-on-debt-ceiling-idUSL2N1LJ01X