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| Sandy flood aid passes in House vote | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US House has passed an emergency aid package for victims of "superstorm" Sandy, days after an outcry over a delay in approval. | |
| The $9.7bn (£5.9bn) bill would prevent a fund that pays flood insurance claims from running out of money by next week. | |
| House Speaker John Boehner agreed to hold two votes on a total $60bn request, after politicians from the hardest-hit areas spoke out. | House Speaker John Boehner agreed to hold two votes on a total $60bn request, after politicians from the hardest-hit areas spoke out. |
| The October storm flooded East Coast areas and killed at least 120 people. | The October storm flooded East Coast areas and killed at least 120 people. |
| It was the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. | It was the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. |
| Politicians from New York and New Jersey, the areas hardest-hit by Sandy, have complained that it took just ten days for Congress to approve $50bn in aid after that storm. | Politicians from New York and New Jersey, the areas hardest-hit by Sandy, have complained that it took just ten days for Congress to approve $50bn in aid after that storm. |
| More than 60 days have passed since Sandy made landfall on the US eastern seaboard. | More than 60 days have passed since Sandy made landfall on the US eastern seaboard. |
| The Senate is expected to vote on the measure later on Friday. | |
| About 140,000 Sandy-related flood insurance claims have been filed, but many have not been fully paid out, US emergency officials said. | About 140,000 Sandy-related flood insurance claims have been filed, but many have not been fully paid out, US emergency officials said. |
| "People are waiting to be paid," Representative Frank LoBiondo, whose district includes Atlantic City and other coastal communities, said. | "People are waiting to be paid," Representative Frank LoBiondo, whose district includes Atlantic City and other coastal communities, said. |
| "They're sleeping in rented rooms on cots somewhere, and they're not happy. They want to get their lives back on track, and it's cold outside. They see no prospect of relief." | "They're sleeping in rented rooms on cots somewhere, and they're not happy. They want to get their lives back on track, and it's cold outside. They see no prospect of relief." |
| Republican anger | Republican anger |
| Mr Boehner was criticised both by Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday after House leaders announced there would be no further votes before the new Congress was sworn in. | Mr Boehner was criticised both by Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday after House leaders announced there would be no further votes before the new Congress was sworn in. |
| The Senate passed the $60bn package last week, but with the congressional term expiring on Wednesday, any Sandy-related aid legislation now needs to be reintroduced. | The Senate passed the $60bn package last week, but with the congressional term expiring on Wednesday, any Sandy-related aid legislation now needs to be reintroduced. |
| "For the speaker to just walk out is inexcusable," Republican New York Representative Peter King told reporters on Wednesday. "It's wrong and I'm saying that as a member of the Republican Party." | "For the speaker to just walk out is inexcusable," Republican New York Representative Peter King told reporters on Wednesday. "It's wrong and I'm saying that as a member of the Republican Party." |
| More New York and New Jersey lawmakers criticised Congress and Mr Boehner, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who said he had been repeatedly assured that the Sandy aid package would come to a vote before Thursday. | More New York and New Jersey lawmakers criticised Congress and Mr Boehner, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who said he had been repeatedly assured that the Sandy aid package would come to a vote before Thursday. |
| "There is no reason for me at the moment to believe anything they tell me," Mr Christie said, adding Congress had shown "callous indifference" towards his state. | "There is no reason for me at the moment to believe anything they tell me," Mr Christie said, adding Congress had shown "callous indifference" towards his state. |
| After Mr Boehner met with New York and New Jersey lawmakers on Wednesday, Mr King announced a two-part vote had been agreed. | After Mr Boehner met with New York and New Jersey lawmakers on Wednesday, Mr King announced a two-part vote had been agreed. |
| A second vote on the rest of the Sandy aid package, including longer-term projects, will be held on 15 January. | A second vote on the rest of the Sandy aid package, including longer-term projects, will be held on 15 January. |