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Sandy storm aid delayed in US Congress 'Superstorm' Sandy aid bill 'to get House vote'
(about 3 hours later)
The US House of Representatives will not vote on a $60bn (£37bn) super-storm Sandy aid package, sparking anger among New York and New Jersey lawmakers. The US House will hold a vote on a $60bn (£37bn) aid package for areas hit by "superstorm" Sandy, a prominent New York Republican has said.
Speaker John Boehner's office said it would not hold a vote on Wednesday, the last day of the current Congress. Congressman Peter King said Speaker John Boehner had agreed to a vote on the full package by mid-January.
The Senate approved a bill last week. Mr Boehner's spokesman said he was committed to passing a bill in January, but it will need to be reintroduced. Earlier, he said the decision not to hold a vote before the current Congress ended was "a knife in the back", and others criticised the speaker.
October's storm killed at least 120 people and flooded East Coast areas. The October storm killed at least 120 people and flooded East Coast areas.
The states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were hardest-hit. The Senate passed the $60bn aid package last week, but legislation will need to be reintroduced once the new Congress convenes on Thursday.
"For the speaker to just walk out is inexcusable," Representative Peter King, a New York Republican, told reporters. "It's wrong and I'm saying that as a member of the Republican Party." Governors speak out
In a statement, US President Barack Obama urged the House to pass the aid package on Wednesday. Angry Democrats and Republicans spoke out on Tuesday night, shortly after the lower chamber backed the fiscal cliff deal, when House leaders announced there would be no further votes before the new Congress was sworn in.
"For the speaker to just walk out is inexcusable," Mr King told reporters. "It's wrong and I'm saying that as a member of the Republican Party."
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also laid blame directly on Mr Boehner during a news conference on Wednesday, saying the speaker and House Republicans had shown "callous indifference" towards his state.
Mr Christie, a Republican, said he had been repeatedly assured that the lower chamber would hold a vote on the relief bill before Thursday.
"There is no reason for me at the moment to believe anything they tell me," Mr Christie said.
Earlier released a joint statement with Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, saying there had been a "dereliction of duty" on the part of the House of Representatives.
In a statement, President Barack Obama urged Congress to pass the aid package on Wednesday.
"Our citizens are still trying to put their lives back together," he said. "Our states are still trying to rebuild vital infrastructure.""Our citizens are still trying to put their lives back together," he said. "Our states are still trying to rebuild vital infrastructure."
'Reset button' 'Reset button'
Earlier, the lower chamber considered a smaller aid package of $27bn for immediate relief needs with a possible $33bn amendment for longer-term projects. Earlier, the House had considered a smaller aid package of $27bn for immediate relief needs with a possible $33bn amendment for longer-term projects.
Some House Republicans said the Senate bill contained spending on unrelated projects or infrastructure proposals that should be paid with other funds. But both the House and Senate bills will expire with the end of the 112th Congress.Some House Republicans said the Senate bill contained spending on unrelated projects or infrastructure proposals that should be paid with other funds. But both the House and Senate bills will expire with the end of the 112th Congress.
"If we get into the next Congress, you have to hit the reset button," Jon Runyan, a New Jersey Republican, told NBC, adding that the bill had been largely pushed aside by negotiations over avoiding the fiscal cliff."If we get into the next Congress, you have to hit the reset button," Jon Runyan, a New Jersey Republican, told NBC, adding that the bill had been largely pushed aside by negotiations over avoiding the fiscal cliff.
"It passed the Senate in a bipartisan way," Representative Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, said. "And again, to me this is a real betrayal, a betrayal of the leadership of the Republican Party.""It passed the Senate in a bipartisan way," Representative Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, said. "And again, to me this is a real betrayal, a betrayal of the leadership of the Republican Party."
Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer said he hoped the decision to take no further votes in the House would be reconsidered.
"I would hope that we would say to those citizens, we're here for you, one country, one nation," he said.
The governors of New York and New Jersey also released a joint statement criticising the House for inaction.
"When American citizens are in need we come to their aid," Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie said. "That tradition was abandoned in the House last night."
Mr Christie, the New Jersey governor, has scheduled a press conference for 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT).
More than $2bn has been spent in 11 states and the District of Columbia on Sandy relief. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) still has $4.3bn in a disaster relief fund, enough to pay for emergency recovery efforts into early spring.More than $2bn has been spent in 11 states and the District of Columbia on Sandy relief. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) still has $4.3bn in a disaster relief fund, enough to pay for emergency recovery efforts into early spring.
According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, Fema's extended transitional housing assistance for Sandy victims will expire next week, leaving about 2,500 people without funds to pay for hotels or motels.According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, Fema's extended transitional housing assistance for Sandy victims will expire next week, leaving about 2,500 people without funds to pay for hotels or motels.
And residents of two of New York City's hardest-hit neighbourhoods told WNYC that money to rebuild was imminently needed.And residents of two of New York City's hardest-hit neighbourhoods told WNYC that money to rebuild was imminently needed.
"The residents are counting on it," Matthew Fleming told the broadcaster."The residents are counting on it," Matthew Fleming told the broadcaster.