<p>The US House of Representatives Friday passed a legislation that would make payments worth $9.7 billion to insurance claims related to Hurricane Sandy.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The bill to allow the National Flood Insurance Program to increase its borrowing authority was approved by the Republican-controlled House with a 354-67 vote, Xinhua reported.<br />The bill was the first of two steps House Speaker John Boehner said he would take to meet the demands of relief for those affected by Sandy.<br /><br />He also promised a vote Jan 15 to provide over $50 billion dollars of aid.<br /><br />The federal government has handed the Congress a sweeping relief bill that would provide over $60 billion to those affected by Sandy, which struck late last year.<br /><br />The Senate has already passed it, but the House has failed to act on it.<br /><br />Boehner and House Republicans were criticised by Democrats and Republicans alike for its inaction.<br /><br />Sandy made landfall in New Jersey in late October 2012, causing widespread damage in 24 states, killing over 100 people and causing at least $60 billion worth of damage.<br /><br />The Senate approved Dec 28, 2012 the emergency relief bill put forward by President Barack Obama.<br /></p>
<p>The US House of Representatives Friday passed a legislation that would make payments worth $9.7 billion to insurance claims related to Hurricane Sandy.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The bill to allow the National Flood Insurance Program to increase its borrowing authority was approved by the Republican-controlled House with a 354-67 vote, Xinhua reported.<br />The bill was the first of two steps House Speaker John Boehner said he would take to meet the demands of relief for those affected by Sandy.<br /><br />He also promised a vote Jan 15 to provide over $50 billion dollars of aid.<br /><br />The federal government has handed the Congress a sweeping relief bill that would provide over $60 billion to those affected by Sandy, which struck late last year.<br /><br />The Senate has already passed it, but the House has failed to act on it.<br /><br />Boehner and House Republicans were criticised by Democrats and Republicans alike for its inaction.<br /><br />Sandy made landfall in New Jersey in late October 2012, causing widespread damage in 24 states, killing over 100 people and causing at least $60 billion worth of damage.<br /><br />The Senate approved Dec 28, 2012 the emergency relief bill put forward by President Barack Obama.<br /></p>