The Buckingham

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Congress has approved a $9.7 billion Sandy aid package.

The measure, which passed the House 354-67 and the Senate unanimously, came on Jan. 4 after delays over fiscal cliff bickering, warnings of dwindling federal funds, and controversy over millions of dollars on unrelated projects.

This was the first legislative action of the new Congress, who picked up the package after the previous session on Jan. 1 shelved a vote on a much larger plan.

Lawmakers will also be weighing in on $51 billion additional funds for Sandy aid on Jan. 15.