http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20913713
4 January 2013 Last updated at 15:09 ET
Democrat Steny Foyer told Congress the bill was “late” and “the bare minimum”
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The US Congress 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 will prevent a flood insurance fund 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.
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.
Waiting game
Politicians from New York and New Jersey, the areas hardest-hit by Sandy, had complained that it took just 10 days for Congress to approve $50bn in aid after Katrina.
More than 60 days have passed since Sandy made landfall on the US eastern seaboard.
Lawmakers remained angered by the delay even during debate on Friday.
Many coastal communities in New Jersey and New York were almost entirely destroyed by storm surge
“How dare you come to this floor and make people think everything is okay?” New Jersey Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell demanded of Republicans sceptical of the bill. ….(more).
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