WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate this afternoon failed to advance a bill that would have provided $7 billion for victims of natural disasters, including Hurricane Irene, injecting a level of uncertainty into the flow of cash that tens of thousands of flood-ravaged New Jerseyans are counting on to clean up and rebuild.

The measure received 53 votes, seven shy of the 60 needed to advance the bill, part of which would fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Democrats blasted the vote as another example of partisan politics run amok.

"No wonder Americans are fed up with Congress when the Republicans make disaster victims pawns in a political game," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). "The Republicans seem to be willing to go to any length to make the government appear to be dysfunctional and ineffective."

That measure, which is likely to be brought up next week, would give the Senate another chance to vote on disaster relief, but it remains unclear if there are enough votes for passage.

Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) sent a letter to John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday, asking him to ensure FEMA is adequately funded.

"Funding to deal with FEMA’s disaster relief efforts must be properly addressed to ensure New Jersey’s rebuilding efforts move forward in a timely manner and also to eliminate any uncertainty our residents and public officials may have about FEMA assistance," the letter said.

"New Jersey residents, anguished as a result of these storms, cannot afford to have essential disaster recovery efforts interrupted."

The Disaster Relief Fund pays for up to $30,000 in repairs to homes and personal property and reimburses local governments for rebuilding public infrastructure, such as parks, schools, community centers and roads.