Harris presides over Senate passage of bill to boost funds for Americans leaving Afghanistan

Washington — Vice President Kamala Harris provided over the Senate on Tuesday to oversee the passage of a bill to boost funding to repatriate Americans returning from Afghanistan.

The bill was passed by unanimous consent at the request of Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, with most senators back in their home states for the August recess. Ahead of its passage, a White House official said Harris would gavel in a pro forma session in the Senate to "enable the passage" of the bill.  The Emergency Repatriation Assistance for Returning Americans Act, which already passed the House, will now head to President Biden's desk. The bill amends the Social Security Act to increase temporary assistance for Americans returning from abroad.