"Lawmakers are navigating partisan divides as they seek to pass a bipartisan disaster aid bill by the end of the year.

Republicans and Democrats appear to agree on the main issue at hand: the need to replenish funds for communities recovering from disasters.

But they disagree on whether to allocate funds toward programs for the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency — creating hurdles for what would otherwise be easily agreed-upon legislation.

“It needs to be a very robust package. We understand that. We agree with that,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told reporters last week."

Rachel Frazin and Aris Folley report for The Hill November 25, 2024. [2]