It took longer than expected, but the U.S. House of Representatives approved $50.7 billion in aid to the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The bill, approved 241-180, is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed by President Barack Obama.
The bill helps distressed homeowners and business owners and repairs public transportation that was damaged during the storm, as well as reimbursing local governments.
The aid package was supposed to be voted on in early January, before being yanked from the docket by Speaker of the House John Boehner, as Republicans criticized the pork barrel spending that was in the bill.
Boehner”™s decision to postpone the vote earned him intense criticism from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Long Island Congressman Peter King, both fellow Republicans .
Christie, along with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy, issued a joint statement on the passing of the bill.
“We are grateful to those members of Congress who today pulled together in a unified, bipartisan coalition to assist millions of their fellow Americans in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut at their greatest time of need,” the governors said.
