House passes Sandy aid bill; Senate is next

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 10 weeks after Superstorm Sandy brutalized parts of the heavily populated Northeast, the House approved $50.5 billion in emergency relief despite a large no vote from Republicans.

Republican leaders struggled to close out an episode that exposed painful party divisions inside Congress and out and the final vote was 241-180. Officials say the Senate is likely to accept the measure early next week.

Conservatives failed in an attempt to offset a part of the bill's cost with across-the-board federal budget cuts. The vote was 258-162.

Sandy has been blamed for 140 deaths and billions of dollars in residential and business property damage, much of it in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The House measure includes about $16 billion to repair transit systems in New York and New Jersey and a similar amount for housing and other needs.

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