The first wave of Hurricane Sandy relief aid approved by Congress today was a step in the right direction, state leaders said, but not nearly enough to launch a timely comeback from the worst storm in New Jersey’s recorded history.

This afternoon, more than two months after Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City, the House and Senate approved $9.7 billion to replenish the National Flood Insurance Program in order to satisfy the claims of nearly 100,000 New Jersey residents whose homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed in the storm. The program was due to run out of money next week.

Despite the approval, the state’s congressional delegation remains anxious about the remaining $50.3 billion in aid the Obama administration has promised for the region. Earlier this week, House Speaker John Boehner pulled a vote on the full $60 billion aid package, a move widely criticized by lawmakers from New Jersey and New York, including Gov. Chris Christie.

"I think it’s deplorable that Speaker Boehner didn’t bring this up two days ago. Now to put up this small piece is again not helping us in a significant way," Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.), whose district includes hard-hit Monmouth County, said.

The money approved today will be used to fill roughly 72,000 insurance claims in New Jersey, only 18 percent of which have been honored so far.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreed that while settling claims is crucial, money to rebuild infrastructure and protect the coastline against future storms is just as important, if not moreso.

"The Army Corps beaches we had saw very little consequence to property and lives," U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said, referring to areas where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built flood protections. "Where we did not, we saw terrible consequences ... We don’t need another Super Sandy all we need is a bad Nor’easter and we’re in trouble."

The new Congress is not expected to vote on the remaining money until Jan. 15, and the Senate will likely not take it up until a week later.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.), passed the House, 354-67. All of the no votes were cast by Republicans who said other government programs should have been cut to pay for the measure. The Senate approved the aid by voice vote.

The congressional action comes just days after what Menendez called the "collective outrage" of Democrats and Republicans over the delay.

Boehner pulled the aid bill on Monday, in the waning hours of the 112th Congress, after nearly two-thirds of House Republicans voted against the "fiscal cliff" package of tax and spending increases.

Christie, widely considered a GOP presidential contender in 2016, excoriated Boehner and House Republicans for the delay.

"There’s only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims: the House majority and their speaker, John Boehner," Christie said Wednesday.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.), who represents parts of Monmouth and Ocean counties, admitted he also was "a critic of Boehner," but said today the delay may win the bill more support.

Congressman Scott Garrett (R-5) looks out the door of House speaker John Boehner into the Rayburn room in this file photo. Garrett sponsored today's first $9.7 billion in Sandy aid.

"All of us have been lobbying very hard among our members to get these votes," Smith said. "I think, paradoxically, the delay has given us the ability to get even more votes."

But no one, Smith included, is happy about having to wait.

Sandy is the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In New Jersey, Sandy caused an estimated $36.9 billion in damage and resulted in 40 deaths.

Lawmakers from New Jersey and other northeastern states have complained that while it took Congress just 10 days to approve about $50 billion in Katrina aid, it has taken more than two months to approve money for Sandy victims.

"The real heavy lifting in the House remains and it’s shameful that House Republicans denied a vote on the comprehensive bill while families continue to suffer," Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) said in a statement today.

Republicans also remain critical.

"Any additional delays in providing federal aid will be met with fierce resistance from myself, members of the delegation, and Governor Christie," Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.) said in a statement.

While more tempered than earlier in the week, Christie kept up the pressure today in a joint statement with New York’s Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo.

"While we are pleased with this progress, today was just a down payment and it is now time to go even further and pass the final and more complete, clean disaster aid bill," the governors’ statement said.

Legislators were hopeful the House would quickly take up the remaining $50.3 billion which will include community development block grants, infrastructure funding and money to rebuild parts of the devastated shore in time for the summer tourist season.

"I remain optimistic about the prospect of passage of (the) supplemental appropriations bill and my amendment to provide $33 billion in additional funding when the House takes up the emergency supplemental on January 15," Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R -11th Dist.) said in a statement.

But for many legislators embittered by Boehner’s delay, some damage has already been done.

Pallone said that if shore businesses and attractions are not up and running by Memorial Day, the financial losses to his district could exacerbate an already bleak situation.

"Every day that goes by makes it worse," he said, adding that he was frustrated the whole bill was not put up for a vote today.

"I still think we have a majority that can pass the whole package but we don’t need to keep delaying it," he said.

Staff writer Seth Augenstein and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

RELATED COVERAGE

• U.S. Senate approves $9.7 billion in Sandy aid following House vote

• Sandy aid vote in Congress expected to have widespread support today

• Fiery Christie lashes out at Boehner, House Republicans for delaying vote on Sandy relief

