Trump administration asks Congress for $29 billion in hurricane relief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Wednesday asked U.S. lawmakers to approve $29 billion in disaster relief funds to assist victims of recent hurricanes that hit Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

The aid request includes $12.8 billion in new funds to help storm victims and $16 billion to defray debt in the federal government's flood insurance program. The White House said the program would reach the limit of its borrowing authority late this month.

The administration also wants another $576.5 million to pay for fighting wildfires in the western United States.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan and David Shepardson; editing by Diane Craft)

NOW WATCH: Here are all the major changes coming to your iPhone September 19