House passes first Sandy aid bill

Congress neared passage Friday of emergency legislation to raise the borrowing authority for the national flood insurance program to pay tens of thousands of claims piling up after Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast in October.
The $9.7 billion bill sailed through the House on a 354-67 vote despite protests from outside conservative groups such as the Club for Growth. The Senate Democratic leadership was hopeful of acting quickly Friday afternoon given a deadline next week when the insurance fund is slated to run out of money.