Disaster Aid Advances in Senate
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 – The Senate late this afternoon advanced a $7 billion aid package for victims of recent natural disasters like Hurricane Irene. The vote was 61 to 38 to bring up a bill to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s depleted disaster fund. Sixty votes were needed to advance the measure. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT.) spoke on the Senate floor before the vote.