U.S. HO– USE PASSES $9.7 BILLION SANDY AID PACKAGE

This morning the U.S. House of Representatives approved $9.7 billion in aid for Hurricane Sandy victims. The money will be used to replenish the National Flood Insurance Program, which was due to run out of funding next week and delay 115,000 claims. A vote on another $51 billion of aid comes on Jan. 15th and faces a tough debate on Capitol Hill. Opponents of the package claim the larger amount has “pork” spending items among the 100 pages of legislation. Congressman Frank LoBiondo promised that the New Jersey delegation would fight for the full dollar amount.