Congress Approves $9.7B For Sandy Relief

Federal funding for Hurricane Sandy victims has been approved by both the House and the Senate after a delay earlier in the week. The House passed the measure with a vote of 354 to 67. The Senate passed the measure by unanimous consent.

Fox News Radio’s Jared Halpern reports from Capitol Hill:

For lawmakers from states hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy:

(Pallone) “This action by the House Republican leadership is too little and too late.”

New Jersey Democrat Frank Pallone ahead of his vote to boost the federal flood insurance programs borrowing limit by nearly $10 billion.

Texas Republican Jeb Hensarling says the vote left him with a tragic choice between paying contractual claims to victims…

(Hensarling) “Or adding $9.7 billion to an insane national debt.”

The bigger fight could come in two weeks when Congress is set to take up a wide-ranging $50 billion disaster relief package.

On Capitol Hill, Jared Halpern, FOX News Radio.

READ a joint statement from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo regarding today’s vote by the House of Representatives:

“Today’s action by the House was a necessary and critical first step towards delivering aid to the people of New Jersey and New York. While we are pleased with this progress, today was just a down payment and it is now time to go even further and pass the final and more complete, clean disaster aid bill. We are trusting Congress to act accordingly on January 15th and pass the final $51 billion instrumental for long-term rebuilding in order for New Jersey, New York and our people to recover after the severe devastation of Hurricane Sandy.”