News / USA

White House Proposes $60.4 Billion for Hurricane Recovery

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie answers a question during a news conference in Trenton, New Jersey, December 7, 2012.New Jersey Governor Chris Christie answers a question during a news conference in Trenton, New Jersey, December 7, 2012.
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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie answers a question during a news conference in Trenton, New Jersey, December 7, 2012.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie answers a question during a news conference in Trenton, New Jersey, December 7, 2012.
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VOA News
U.S. President Barack Obama is asking Congress to approve $60.4 billion in aid to help rebuild East Coast states battered by Super Storm Sandy in late October.

The spending plan was announced in a joint statement Friday by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his New Jersey counterpart, Chris Christie.

The storm killed at least 125 people in the United States after roaring northward from the Caribbean, where it killed at least 71 others.

The New York Times reports the plan would pay for most, but not all, of the $82 billion in damage identified by the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  

In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, the Office of Management and Budget said the aid will be used to rebuild small businesses, transit systems, beaches and other infrastructure. It will not pay for damage covered by private insurance, and relief will be limited to primary residences.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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