Sandy Aid Bill Approved By House

Last edited Tue Jan 15, 2013, 09:43 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: Associated Press

More than 10 weeks after Superstorm Sandy brutalized parts of the heavily populated Northeast, the House approved $50.7 billion in emergency relief for the victims Tuesday night as Republican leaders struggled to close out an episode that exposed painful party divisions inside Congress and out.

The vote was 241-180, and officials said the Senate was likely to accept the measure early next week and send it to President Barack Obama for his signature. Democrats supported the aid in large numbers, but there was substantial Republican backing, too, in the GOP-controlled House.

We are not crying wolf here, said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., one of a group of Northeastern lawmakers from both parties who sought House passage of legislation roughly in line with what the Obama administration and governors of the affected states have sought.

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I just plead with my colleagues not to have a double standard, said Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York. Not to vote tornado relief to Alabama, to Louisiana, to Mississippi, Missouri, to – with Ike, Gustav, Katrina, Rita – but when it comes to the Northeast, with the second worst storm in the history of our country, to delay, delay, delay.



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/15/sandy-aid-bill_n_2483017.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/15/sandy-relief-measure-passes_n_2480328.html
Sandy Relief Passes House Despite Conservative Opposition


CLARIFICATION: 5:50 p.m. -- An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that a $17 billion Sandy relief measure had passed the House on Tuesday afternoon. That vote in favor of the relief measure was a preliminary vote, not a final vote, which occurred later in the evening.


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In a joint statement, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy praised members of the House for pulling together in a unified, bipartisan coalition for the vote.

“We anticipate smooth passage when this package moves back to the Senate for final approval and for this long-awaited relief to finally make its way to our residents, they said.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/15/house-prepares-to-vote-again-on-sandy-aid/?hpt=hp_t1


(snip)
Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said in a joint statement:

It's great news for families, communities and small businesses in our region that the House – after weeks of delay - finally passed an emergency relief bill for Superstorm Sandy. Our region extends a helping hand any time another community suffers from a major disaster, and we're pleased that the House voted to provide this emergency relief for New Jersey and New York. As we rebuild, we are committed to making smart investments to ensure that our transportation networks, beach communities, businesses and local neighborhoods can rebuild stronger so that they are better prepared for future storms.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/new-york-new-jersey-senators-praise-house-passage