Congress’ Vote On Superstorm Sandy Relief Aid Moves Forward

House Speaker makes smaller aid package a top priority of the new session

Lawmakers in the newly sworn in the 113th Congress will begin their work on Friday with a previously tabled vote on funds to help rebuild the northeastern communities ravaged by Superstorm Sandy. A $9.7 billion measure to pay flood insurance claims is set for a vote, and is expected to pass in both the House and the Senate. Officials in the affected areas had been pushing a $60 billion bill, which some Republicans in the House vowed to block because of its size. FEMA warned that the National Flood Insurance Programs would run out of money next week if Congress didn’t provide the money that pay out claims. House Speaker John Boehner promised this vote after a decision to delay it drew outrage from Republicans and Democrats, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who said he’d lost trust in the GOP leaders in Congress as a result. About 140,000 Sandy-related flood claims have been filed. The storm damaged or destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey. In New York, 305,000 housing units and 265,000 businesses were affected. (Associated Press)

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