WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, Congress passed legislation that would provide $15.25 billion for Hurricane Harvey victims and extend the U.S. debt limit. The measure, which passed with bipartisan support, will fund the government through December 8.

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) releases the following statement:

“Today’s bipartisan vote to pass hurricane relief and extend the debt limit was a victory for the American people,” said Rep. Sewell. “Faced with massive devastation in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey and an impending financial cliff, Members of Congress put aside political ideology and did the right thing for their constituents. That is how Washington is supposed to work. While hurricane cleanup and restoration efforts will take years, I believe today’s relief package puts impacted areas on the road to recovery. In a climate of extreme partisanship, I hope that today’s vote helps to restore faith between parties and lays the groundwork for cooperation on issues like health care, tax reform, and comprehensive immigration reform.”

FEMA has indicated that without aid from Congress, it would run out of disaster relief money by Saturday, September 9. The deal includes $7.4 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, $7.4 billion for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, and an extension of National Flood Insurance Program authority.

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.