House Republicans are going to let the 112th Congress expire Wednesday without action on a Superstorm Sandy relief bill that includes a 50 percent increase in the National Flood Insurance Program's borrowing authority.
After criticism, including from some inside of his own party, House Speaker John Boehener, R-Ohio, agreed to hold a vote on the Sandy Aid package on Friday, shortly after the new Congress takes over, several news reports say.
The aid package, both the $60.4 billion package passed by the Senate, and the smaller $27 billion package introduced Tuesday in the House, borrowing-authority increase
On Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which runs the NFIP, notified Write-Your-Own companies that it would run out of cash to pay Sandy claims within two weeks.
Criticism was strong, with New York's Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, issuing a joint statement on the issue.
"When American citizens are in need, we come to their aid," they said. "That tradition was abandoned in the House last night. The people of our states can no longer afford to wait while politicians in Washington play games."
At the same time, Jimi Grande, senior vice president of federal and political affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, issued a statement late Wednesday saying NAMIC is "terribly disappointed" that the Congress would adjourn without making absolutely certain that NFIP policyholders will have their claims paid.
"This inaction means there is the potential of defaulting on the government's obligation to tens of thousands of NFIP policyholders," Grande says.
"Extending the NFIP borrowing authority was never disputed by either party—yet it marks another failure of the current Congress. They must act within the first few days of the 113th Congress if we are to avoid creating even more hardship for the victims of Sandy," Grande adds.
An industry lobbyist, who declined to be named but has spoken to people in the House leadership, says the reason the Sandy-aid legislation was pulled is because the House Republican leadership "doesn't want to put on the House floor a contentious appropriations package so soon after the 'fiscal cliff' debacle.
"They are still licking their wounds," the lobbyist says.
He cites comments by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the party's 2012 vice presidential nominee and a leading House fiscal conservative, that the Democratic bill was "packed with funding for unrelated items" such as commercial fisheries in American Samoa and roof repair of museums in Washington.
The lobbyist says, and this was confirmed by members of several congressional delegations contacted by state regulators, that many members of the House feel that the $60.4 billion package passed by the Senate Friday night was too big, and unjustified.
Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, introduced on Jan. 1 legislation that effectively cut the aid package from the $60.4 billion package approved by the Senate to a more-modest $27 billion.
"As we embark on these recovery efforts, it is essential that Congress make responsible decisions to get the most out of each and every recovery dollar," Rogers said at the time. "We've included important oversight measures and reporting requirements in this legislation to prevent abuse and ensure federal agencies are using these funds in a responsible, effective way."
The current 112th Congress expires at midnight, and a new Congress starts work Thursday.
"If we get into the next Congress, you have to hit the reset button," says Rep. Jon Runyan, R-N.J. He says the Sandy aid package has been largely drowned out in recent days by negotiations over the fiscal cliff tax hikes and spending cuts that were set to kick in starting on Tuesday.
"I'm saying right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to Congressional Republicans is out of their minds," Representative Peter T. King, a Long Island Republican, said during an interview on CNN on Wednesday morning. "Because what they did last night was put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. It was an absolute disgrace."
When he found out about it on the House floor early Wednesday, several hours after the House fiscal-cliff vote, Rep. Michael Grimm, a Staten Island Republican, said, "I feel it is a personal betrayal. But, I think more importantly, when you parse out all the politics, the people of this country that have been devastated are looking at this as a betrayal by the Congress and by the nation, and that is just untenable and unforgivable."
In his statement Wednesday morning, President Obama said, "When tragedy strikes, Americans come together to support those in need. I urge Republicans in the House of Representatives to do the same; bring this important request to a vote today, and pass it without delay for our fellow Americans."
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