"WASHINGTON - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled on Monday an $81 billion aid package to deal with hurricanes and wildfires, far above President Donald Trump’s $44 billion request.

The legislation would help Puerto Rico and several states recover from devastating hurricanes and California and other Western states cope with wildfires.

It was unclear whether the latest natural-disaster aid plan would be rushed through the Republican-controlled Congress this week, before the start of a Christmas recess, or await congressional votes early next year."

Richard Cowan and Eric Beech report for Reuters December 18, 2017. [2]