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Anger after House ignores Sandy relief

Jan 2nd 2013, 15:09

The Senate passed the $60.4 billion measure last week
Because a new Congress will be sworn in, the process will have to start over
"It is disgraceful," says Peter King, R-New York
House Appropriations Chair says some aid will be ultimately approved

Washington (CNN) -- In a move that surprised many lawmakers and angered others, House Republican leaders wrapped up this session of Congress Tuesday night without voting on a package that would have provided billions of dollars in aid to victims of Superstorm Sandy.

The Senate passed the $60.4 billion measure last week, and senators from New York had called on the House to take it up promptly.

But because the House failed to act and a new Congress will be sworn in Thursday, the entire legislative process will have to start over -- delaying the package from disbursing money to affected states.

GOP leaders announced they would not bring up any legislation Wednesday -- the last day of the session -- as many expected.

Cleaning crews work in Manhattan's financial district following damage from Superstorm Sandy on Monday, November 12. View photos of New York's recovery.

Evelyn Faherty hugs a friend on Sunday, November 11, while discussing the damage done to her home by Superstorm Sandy in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York.

Volunteers shovel sand and water out of the basement of Monir Islam's home in the Rockaway Park neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Sunday. The Rockaways peninsula in Queens was one of the areas hardest hit by Sandy. See photos of Rockaway's continuing struggles.

Furniture and other belongings are strewn under and around a beach house damaged by Sandy on Saturday, November 10, in Mystic Island, New Jersey.

Streets in Ortley Beach, New Jersey, were destroyed by Sandy.

Clean-up continues on Saturday, November 10 among piles of debris where a large section of the iconic boardwalk was washed away in the heavily damaged Rockaways.

Mac Baker, right, poses with her niece Nytaisha Baker next to pots of water she heats on the floor with small flames for a bit of warmth in Baker's unheated apartment in the Ocean Bay public housing projects in the Far Rockaway neighborhood in Queens on Friday, November 9.

Theresa Goddard, her apartment still without electricity, is overwhelmed while discussing her living conditions on Thursday, November 8, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

A police officer carries blankets donated by Ikea for people affected by Superstorm Sandy in Brooklyn.

Debris from Superstorm Sandy is seen on a beach Thursday in Long Branch, New Jersey.

Troops from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the U.S. Navy help local residents remove household items damaged by Superstorm Sandy on November 6, in the New Dorp Beach neighborhood of Staten Island, New York.

Voter Sheresa Walker uses a flashlight for poll worker Lloyd Edwards in a tent set up as a polling place in Queens, New York.

A poll worker directs people to a temporary polling center in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York. Polling sites in Coney Island and the surrounding area were damaged during Superstorm Sandy.

Michael Fischkelta, 8, lies on his cot with his mother, Jenifer Wilson, in a Red Cross evacuation shelter set up in the gymnasium of Toms River High School on Monday, November 5, in Toms River, New Jersey. View photos of the recovery efforts in New York.

Ruth Hawfield sits next to her cot Monday in a Red Cross evacuation shelter at Toms River High School.

A woman fills out an early voting ballot on Sunday, November 4, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie ordered early voting stations to stay open through the weekend in an effort to get people to vote despite the damage done by Superstorm Sandy.

A woman sifts through her mother's damaged home for items to save Sunday in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York.

A workman repairs damage to the steeple of the First United Methodist Church on Sunday in Port Jefferson, New York.

People sift through their damaged home on Sunday in Breezy Point.

A statue of a firefighter stands in front of a burned down house Sunday in Rockaway, New York.

Abraham Cambrelen, 19, takes the Staten Island Ferry to go check on his mother Sunday while New York recovers from Hurricane Sandy.

Crowds wait for free gas on Saturday, November 3, at the Bedford Avenue Armory in Brooklyn, New York.

A house sits devastated by Superstorm Sandy on Friday, November 2, in Union Beach, New Jersey. The cost of the storm's damage in the U.S. is estimated at between $30 billion and $50 billion, according to disaster modeling firm Eqecat.

A baby picture lies beneath rubble in a neighborhood devastated by the storm in Union Beach on Friday.

Flood-damaged belongings sit on the side of the road in Union Beach on Friday.

Park Choul works by flashlight in his deli in New York's East Village on Thursday, November 1. More than 3.3 million customers remained without electricity in 15 states and the District of Columbia four days after Sandy barreled ashore.

Geronimo Harrison's apartment in the East Village remains without power or water Thursday. He's using candles for light and a gas stove for heat.

Water gets pumped out of a business in the East Village on Thursday.

A roller coaster sits in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after the Fun Town pier it sat on in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

Amusement-park rides lie mangled on the beach after the Fun Town pier in Seaside Heights was destroyed.

The arcade at the FunTown pier in Seaside Heights is in ruins. Storm damage is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars.

The inside of a gas pump is exposed at a closed station that was recently under floodwater on Thursday, November 1, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Superstorm Sandy, which made landfall along the New Jersey shore, has left the state with a fuel shortage due to logistical problems and power failures.

People wait in line for fuel at a Shell Oil station onThursday in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Fuel shortages have led to long lines of cars at gasoline stations in many states.

Cars wait in line for fuel at a Gulf gas station in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

A woman leaves an Exxon gas station that was out of fuel on Thursday in North Bergen, New Jersey.

Bridget De La Torre holds her daughter Neve, 3, as daughter Paz sits nearby while they rest and charge devices on Thursday. They were at a shelter for those affected by Superstorm Sandy at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Hoboken, New Jersey. Bridget's family has no electricity or hot water, and their car was destroyed by flooding.

Waves break in front of an amusement park destroyed by Superstorm Sandy on Wednesday, October 31, in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. At least 56 people were killed in the storm. New Jersey suffered massive damage and power outages.

People walk near the remains of burned homes in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Wednesday.

An overview of the fire damage in Queens, New York, following Hurricane Sandy. Residents in hard-hit areas sifted through the wreckage of Sandy on Wednesday as millions remained without power.

Buildings on the shoreline are pictured from Air Force One as it prepares to land in Atlantic City, New Jersey, carrying President Barack Obama, who visited areas hardest hit by the unprecedented storm.

President Barack Obama speaks as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie looks on, as they visit a shelter for Hurricane Sandy victims in Brigantine, New Jersey.

The shadow of Air Force One is cast on the water as it prepares to land in Atlantic City on Wednesday, October 31.

Residents in the Rockaway section of Queens, New York, wait to charge their phones at a government generator. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey resumed operations on limited schedules Wednesday, and the New York Stock Exchange commenced trading after being closed for two days.

Motorists drive through standing water in Hoboken, New Jersey. Known as the Mile Square City, the low-lying neighborhoods suffered deep flooding resulting from the storm surge associated with Hurricane Sandy.

A member of Army National Guard Unit Gulf 250 from Morristown, New Jersey, evacuates victims of Hurricane Sandy in Hoboken on Wednesday, October 31.

Residents traverse flooded streets as clean up operations begin in Hoboken, New Jersey.

New Jersey Natural Gas technician Carlos Rojas inspects a leaking gas main that is under water at a home damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

A resident looks through the remnants of his home in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York.

Flood-damaged streets are viewed in the Rockaway section of Queens, New York, where the historic boardwalk was washed away due to Hurricane Sandy.

People walk past homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

Traders stand outside of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wednesday, October 31. U.S. equity markets resumed trading Wednesday for the first time this week after Hurricane Sandy.

People board the ferry, one of the few functioning transportation systems, in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Wednesday, October 31.

Members of the State University of New York Maritime Academy aid in the relief efforts, using row boats to help victims from in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Jimmy Lee, owner of The Nail Store, begins the cleanup of his shop from damage done by Hurricane Sandy in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Blaine Badick and her fiancee Andrew Grapsas cross a flooded street with their dog while leaving their home in Hoboken.

Residents walk through the area where the boardwalk was washed away in the Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Wednesday.

The Rockaway boardwalk in Queens, New York, was stripped down to the piers by Superstorm Sandy.

People look at a damaged section of the Rockaway boardwalk in Queens, New York, on Wednesday.

People walk down a flooded street on Wednesday, October 31, in Hoboken, New Jersey.

A man charges his cellphone at a home that still has power in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Wednesday, October 31. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 2 million customers in New Jersey were without power.

A firefighter stands on the porch of a home destroyed by fire in Queens on Wednesday.

Customers line up to buy supplies at an Ace Hardware with a power generator in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

Superstorm Sandy stripped the steps from the deck of this home in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

Superstorm Sandy left a car buried in sand in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

A helicopter flies past damaged homes in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, on Wednesday, October 31.

A man makes his way through floodwater and debris in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

A police car patrols an empty waterfront neighborhood without power in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

Concrete piers are all that remain of the destroyed boardwalk in Atlantic City on Wednesday.

Debris from damaged property and the remains of a boardwalk litter the shoreline in Atlantic City on Wednesday.

Waterfront property in Atlantic City lays in tatters on Wednesday. Transportation in the state was crippled by floodwaters, as well.

"We are in a state of crisis all across this state," Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker told CNN on Wednesday. "It's going to be a challenging time."

A police car patrols an empty waterfront neighborhood that lost power at dawn in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

People wait for buses along New York's Sixth Avenue on Wednesday.

Superstorm Sandy stripped New York's historic Rockaway boardwalk down to its foundation.

A woman examines damage to the Rockaway neighborhood in New York on Wednesday.

Commuters ride a NY Waterway ferry from Jersey City, New Jersey, on Wednesday, the first day of operation since the storm hit.

A man rides on the front of a forklift while recording flood damage for insurance purposes in Little Ferry, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

Con Edison employee John Shammah pauses while working on a steam pipe on First Avenue in New York City on Wednesday.

CNN iReporter Jordan Shapiro captured this view of the Williamsburg Bridge in New York at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30. Half of the bridge and Brooklyn is lit, while the Manhattan side and the surrounding part of the island remain shrouded in darkness.

Dog owners in Alexandria, Virginia, gathered to see the flood waters left by Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday.

Taxis sit in a flooded lot Tuesday in Hoboken, New Jersey.

People take pictures of a flooded street Tuesday in Hoboken.

A man stands near a homemade road block on Tuesday in Little Ferry, New Jersey.

People wait in line to fill containers with gas at a Shell station in Edison, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Superstorm Sandy left much of Bergen County flooded and without power.

Aerial images from the U.S. Coast Guard show the coastline in Brigantine, New Jersey, on Tuesday. Sandy struck land near Atlantic City, New Jersey, around high tide Monday night.

Homes and other buildings in Brigantine were destroyed in Sandy's wake. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie described the devastation in the state as "unthinkable."

Brigantine saw extensive damage from high winds and flooding.

Homes are flooded Tuesday in Tuckerton, New Jersey. President Barack Obama signed major disaster declarations for New Jersey and New York, clearing the way for federal aid.

A resident walks down a street covered in beach sand due to flooding from Hurricane Sandy in Long Beach, New York on Tuesday.

Firefighters work to extinguish flames in a home in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens on Tuesday. The massive fire broke out during the storm and destroyed at least 80 homes

Ted Wondsel, owner of Ted's Fishing Station in Long Beach, assesses the damage to his business Tuesday.

People wait outside a shelter at the Bergen County Technical Schools Teterboro Campus on Tuesday in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

Utility workers from Delmarva Power replace a power pole that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy in Ocean City, Maryland, on Tuesday.

Dale Kelly sits on a bench Tuesday on a flooded street in Ocean City, New Jersey, which was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy.

Ted Wondsel, left, of Point Lookout works on part of a dock destroyed in the storm in Long Beach on Tuesday.

West Broadway in Long Beach is covered in beach sand due to flooding from Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday.

Residents walk along a street covered in beach sand after floodwaters from Superstorm Sandy retreated Tuesday in Long Beach.

A small plane damaged in the storm sits on a runway in Farmingdale, New York, on Tuesday.

Streets remain flooded in portions of Ocean City, New Jersey.

Utility workers repair a traffic signal damaged by the storm in Ocean City, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

A Virgin Mary statue stands in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Tuesday after a fire fed by high winds destroyed at least 80 homes, officials said.

President Barack Obama outlines the federal government's response to Superstorm Sandy at the Red Cross headquarters in Washington.

Firefighters work to contain the fire in Queens on Tuesday. Some 200 firefighters battled the six-alarm blaze.

A man surveys damage to sailboats Tuesday at a marina on City Island in New York.

"My message to the federal government: no bureaucracy, no red tape, get resources where they're needed as fast as possible, as hard as possible, and for the duration," Obama said in Washington Tuesday. Both Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney canceled campaign events.

People stand on a mound of construction dirt on Tuesday to view a section of the uptown boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, that was destroyed by flooding.

A firefighter looks through debris in Queens on Tuesday. In September, the same area endured severe weather as a powerful cold front brought heavy rain, high winds and a tornado.

A malfunctioning generator billows black smoke at a building in New York on Tuesday.

Mitt Romney helps gather donated goods for storm relief Tuesday in Kettering, Ohio.

Emergency personnel help a resident of Little Ferry, New Jersey, onto a boat after rescuing her from floodwater on Tuesday.

Dean Walter, left. and Henry Young walk along a seawall in Scituate, Massachusetts, with their surfboards after going into the heavy surf for about 20 minutes on Tuesday.

Superstorm Sandy left New York's South Street Seaport flooded and covered in debris on Tuesday.

Passers-by look at a car that was crushed by a tree near New York's financial district on Tuesday.

Pedestrians and bikers cross the Brooklyn Bridge after the storm on Tuesday.

People stand among the debris of the destroyed section of Atlantic City, New Jersey's, uptown boardwalk on Tuesday.

Sailboats rest on the ground after being tipped over by Superstorm Sandy on City Island, New York, on Tuesday.

Onlookers watch a dangling crane, damaged in the winds of Superstorm Sandy, atop a luxury high-rise under construction in midtown Manhattan on Tuesday.

An onlooker snaps a photo of the damaged crane on Tuesday.

Jolito Ortiz helps clean up a friend's apartment on New York's lower east side on Tuesday.

A tidal surge created by Sandy flooded the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in New York on Tuesday.

A worker cuts down a tree near American University in Washington on Tuesday.

A home badly damaged by Superstorm Sandy sits along the shoreline in Milford, Connecticut, on Tuesday.

An emergency worker carries a resident through floodwaters in Little Ferry, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

Police walk past debris left by the storm at Battery Park in New York on Tuesday.

Floodwater splashes into the window of a building on the shore in Bellport, New York, on Tuesday.

Rescue workers use a hovercraft to rescue a resident using a wheelchair from floodwaters in Little Ferry, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

A resident of Little Ferry, New Jersey, assists in rescue efforts with his personal watercraft on Tuesday.

The HMS Bounty, a 180-foot sailboat, is submerged in the Atlantic Ocean about 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, North Carolina, on Monday, October 29.

A man walks through the debris of a 2,000-foot section of Atlantic City, New Jersey's "uptown" boardwalk on Tuesday. It was destroyed by flooding from Sandy.

Downed trees are removed near the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington on Tuesday.

Heavy surf buckles Ocean Avenue in Avalon, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

Sam Rigby walks on Tuesday near an uprooted tree that grazed his house and hit his neighbor's house in Washington.

A photographer shoots waves in Lake Michigan generated by the remnants of Sandy as they crash into the Chicago shoreline on Tuesday.

A police officer helps remove a tree branch brought down during the storm in Washington on Tuesday.

A man takes pictures of cars from the steps of a home on a flooded street at Hoboken in New Jersey, on Tuesday.

A woman wades through water at the South Street Seaport in New York City on Tuesday.

A street light and utility pole lie on the street in Avalon, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

Atlantic City, New Jersey, resident Kim Johnson inspects the area around her flooded apartment building on Tuesday.

A power line knocked over by a falling tree blocks a street in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on Tuesday.

Workers shovel debris from the streets in Ocean City, Maryland, on Tuesday.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flies over Central Park in New York on Tuesday.

A man jogs near a darkened Manhattan skyline on Tuesday after much of New York City lost electricity.

Workers clear a tree blocking East 96th Street in Central Park in New York on Tuesday. View more photos of the recovery efforts in New York.

Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy

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Photos: Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy

Jeannette Van Houten and other residents of Union Beach, New Jersey, found family photos such as this one scattered after Superstorm Sandy. They want to return the snapshots to their rightful owners.

Dressed up children stand in front of a house in this photograph, featured on Jeannette Van Houten's Facebook page.

This snapshot of two people out on the town was found after Sandy tore through Union Beach.

This evocative black and white group photo was found among the debris after Superstorm Sandy hit Union Beach.

A group dines out in this picture found in Jeannette Van Houten's hunt for photos after Sandy.

A youngster is snapped in front of a grand building in this photograph, lost after Superstorm Sandy.

Fishermen face the camera in this snapshot, found and posted on Jeannette Van Houten's Facebook page.

Two colorfully dressed children play in this photograph, caked with mud after Superstorm Sandy.

A child sits on Santa's lap in this damaged photograph, found in Union Beach after Sandy swept through.

Someone cradles a baby in a snapshot found after Superstorm Sandy destroyed several homes in Union Beach.

Photos lost in Superstorm Sandy

New Yorker Steph Goralnick used her Instagram photos of New York after Superstorm Sandy to document the need for help. Here, the streets of Lower Manhattan are flooded after water was pumped out of buildings.

Financial district in Lower Manhattan lost power from the storm.

A parking lot in Rockaway Beach shows the force of the storm. Goralneck joined a volunteer group known as the Rockaway Renegades to organize the relief effort.

The pylons in the background of this shot of a damaged playground in Rockaway once supported a boardwalk.

Houses in this Belle Harbor neighborhood caught fire during the storm.

A volunteer helps sort clothing donations at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in the Rockaway neighborhood.

Residents show the storm hasn't taken their sense of humor by making the most of the sand on the streets that washed ashore from the beach blocks away.

Residents and volunteers salvage what they can, including this high school diploma pulled from a flooded basement.

The beachfront of Rockaway suffered heavily in the storm. Goralnick says she doesn't want relief efforts to fade as the media spotlight does.

Residents line up for gas in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. New York City gas rationing ended on Saturday, November 24.

Goralnick says there is much more to be done to help those hit by the storm. Dealing with this house in Belle Harbor is just one example.

Belle Harbor shows its patriotism as Veterans Day approached.

Sandy's aftermath via Instagram

Photos: Sandy's aftermath via Instagram

A photo damaged by Superstorm Sandy before and after restoration performed by "CARE for Sandy."

Five feet of water inside Liz Sullivan's apartment in Rockaway Park, NY badly damaged framed family photos on the walls. She brought in a box of old pictures to a CareforSandy,org scanning event over the weekend.

Professional photo retoucher Becci Manson cleans one of Liz Sullivan's pictures before scanning it into a datagase. Another volunteer will work on restoring it to its pre-Sandy appearance.

Photos damaged by Sandy were under water for hours, even days, before they could be retrieved. Some were submerged in a mix of sea water and raw sewage causing parts of the picture to break down and peal away. Volunteers repair the damage using Photoshop and other programs.

Martin Rigby uses a high definition camera to photograph damaged pictures that are too large to be scanned. He spends about 20 hours a week volunteering to restore photos damaged by the super-storm.

Lee Kelly founded CARE (Cherished Albums Restoration Effort) for Sandy. She enlisted hundreds of professional photographers and photo retouchers to help in the effort to restore thousands of family photos damaged by water and sometimes flames.

Jan Fine scans a damaged photo for future restoration. The professional graphic artist drove up from Maryland to take part in the Care for Sandy photo scanning event in the Rockaways on Sunday.

A photo damaged by Superstorm Sandy before and after restoration performed by "CARE for Sandy."

Saving photos damaged by Sandy

Sandy picture restoration 12

Saving photos damaged by Sandy

A video of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaking to a victim of Hurricane Sandy is projected as The Who perform during 12-12-12: The Concert For Sandy Relief on Wednesday, December 12, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The concert was held to benefit The Robin Hood Relief Fund to aid the victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Sir Paul McCartney performs on stage with a crowd during the concert finale. Proceeds from 12-12-12 benefit the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which is assisting storm victims in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Jon Bon Jovi, left, and Bruce Springsteen share the mic to raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy. "This recovery is not going to be quick," Bon Jovi told the crowd during his set. "We need your support."

Bruce Springsteen performs one of his signature moves during the concert. Springsteen's set included "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "Born to Run." Organizers described the event as a "showcase of music royalty."

Eric Clapton performs at Madison Square Garden. Concert organizers said the event was accessible to 2 billion people worldwide, through television and websites. "We are having high donation volume on the web," they said on the concert's Twitter page late Wednesday.

Jimmy Fallon speaks to the crowd on Wednesday. "The response from the entertainment community to help those most affected by Sandy has been nothing short of astounding," the producers said in a statement.

Roger Daltrey of The Who performs on Wednesday. The Who's set included "Who Are You" and "Pinball Wizard."

Alicia Keys, launching into a customized version of "No One," told a cheering crowd, "This is our city. This is everybody's city. The resilience of this city is incredible."

Roger Daltrey, left, and Pete Townshend of The Who rock out in classic style.

Eric Clapton performs. "We are confident that the event will ensure those in need will not be forgotten, and vital aid will be directed to rebuilding our communities along the East Coast," the organizers said in a statement.

Stephen Colbert adds his voice to those supporting Sandy's victims.

Chris Rock addresses the crowd at Madison Square Garden in front of projected images of Sandy's devastation.

Jumbo screens project multiple images of Billy Joel's performance on Wednesday.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie attends the concert on Wednesday. Christie recently said the latest estimates of Sandy-related storm costs in his state were $36.8 billion, while New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters the total cost in his state was $41 billion.

Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform at the benefit.

Rapper Kanye West performs as part of Wednesday night's line-up.

Chris Martin, left, of Coldplay and Michael Stipe of R.E.M. confer during their performance.

Bobby Moynihan and Seth Meyers of "Saturday Night Live" address the crowd.

Sir Paul McCartney performs amid huge pyrotechnic displays.

English musician Roger Waters of pink Floyd performs during his set at the benefit.

Entertainers gather to support Sandy victims

This prompted many angry Democrats and some Republicans -- mostly from New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut -- to demand that House GOP leaders bring members back and vote on the bill.

"It is disgraceful. It even makes it worse being a Republican. It is terrible. I mean, my district was devastated," said Republican Representative Peter King, who represents part of Long Island hit hard by the storm.

"The whole region was devastated and we have never had a natural disaster before where Congress walked away."

Sandy killed at least 113 people in the U.S. and left millions of people without power after running up the East Coast in late October. The storm hit hardest in New York and New Jersey.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has put the storm-related costs at $41.9 billion, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has estimated a price tag of $36.8 billion.

The bill includes grant funding for owners of homes and businesses, as well as funding for public improvement projects on the electric grid, hospitals and transit systems to order to prevent damage from future storms.

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Kentucky, insisted some aid would ultimately be approved in the next Congress.

"FEMA has plenty of money, there's no immediate needs," he said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"FEMA has enough money to last until at least late February-March anyway."

King said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, was the one to decide not to hold the vote before the end of the session.

Michael Steel, Boehner's spokesman, said the speaker was "committed to getting this bill passed this month."

Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-New York, gave out the number for the Capitol switchboard and encouraged people watching the House floor proceedings on C-SPAN to call and appeal to GOP leaders.

"The leadership just walked away," he said.

The tumultuous process of getting the fiscal cliff deal passed in the House undoubtedly held up the relief measure -- and many conservative House Republicans opposed the size of the Senate bill.

Some argued there were many unrelated provisions in it for items that were not emergency needs.

"Leadership was all-consumed with the cliff procedure," Rogers told reporters off the House floor late Tuesday night. "And they really have not had the time to devote to this because of that."

Up until Tuesday night, GOP leaders were working toward a plan of splitting up the vote into two measures -- one providing $27 billion in immediate needs, and another amendment offering $33 billion for longer term recovery efforts.

Rogers said he was ready to move his scaled-back bill, but did not give a timetable for the vote in the next Congress.

Said King: "It means the federal government, the U.S. Congress turned its back on these innocent people and it is one of the worst decisions that has ever been made in the Congress. Indefensible."

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