The House easily passed a $9.7-billion package this morning to help pay flood insurance for the homes and businesses hit the hardest by Superstorm Sandy. The vote comes more than two months after the storm drenched the Northeast and only days after House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to punt on a larger package drew the bipartisan ire of lawmakers and governors from the region.
The bill allows FEMA to pay out claims to those who held federal flood insurance. It passed with a final vote of 354 to 67, with all the “Nay” votes coming from Republicans. That most noteworthy vote against came from Paul Ryan.
The bill is expected to sail through the Senate, where lawmakers have previously passed the flood insurance provision as part of a larger $60.4 billion package. Boehner has promised to take up a second disaster relief package later this month.
