WASHINGTON – A $51 billion disaster aid bill intended to fund recovery from Hurricane Sandy passed in the U.S. House Tuesday evening.  The Senate is expected to easily adopt the measure.

The House vote was 241 to 180, with all but one of the opposition votes coming from Republicans. 

The bill includes $17 billion for immediate recovery assistance. 

"We are grateful to those members of Congress who today pulled together in a unified, bipartisan coalition to assist millions of their fellow Americans in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut at their greatest time of need”, said governors Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) and Chris Christie (R-NJ), in a joint statement. “The tradition of Congress being there and providing support for Americans during times of crisis, no matter where they live across this great country, lives on in today’s vote in the House of Representatives. We anticipate smooth passage when this package moves back to the Senate for final approval and for this long-awaited relief to finally make its way to our residents."