House approves $9.7 billion in Sandy flood aid

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - OCTOBER 30: People stand on a mound of construction dirt to view the area where a 2,000-foot section of the 'uptown' boardwalk was destroyed by flooding from Hurricane Sandy. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Posted: 01/04/2013

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has overwhelmingly approved $9.7 billion to pay flood insurance claims for the many home and business owners flooded out by Superstorm Sandy. The vote came more than two months after the storm hit and days after Northeast Republicans erupted over House Speaker John Boehner's decision to delay an earlier vote.

Friday's 354-67 vote sends the bill to the Senate, which expects to pass the bill later in the day. All of the no votes were cast by Republicans.

The bill gives more borrowing authority to the National Flood Insurance Program to pay about 115,000 pending claims.

Northeast lawmakers say the money is urgently needed for victims of one of the worst storms ever to strike the region. Boehner set Friday's vote after sparking controversy with a decision to delay House action on a broader Sandy aid package.