It took the federal government ten days to approve relief aid for Hurricane Katrina victims. It's been more than two months, and New Yorkers are still fighting for their funding. All I can say is, it's a good things for us New Yorkers are fighters. But it certainly won't be a good thing for Washington if lawmakers don't get it together and vote on that Sandy aid.

Washington lawmakers want New Yorkers to know more help is on the way. Today in the nation's capital, members of the 113th Congress were sworn in and scheduled a vote for tomorrow on $9.7 billion to cover flood claims from Hurricane Sandy. Another vote is scheduled for January 15th on an additional $51 billion in relief.

Also today, FEMA opened a new disaster recovery center in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Financial assistance and guidance is available to residents affected by the storm. FEMA officials said 140,000 Sandy-related flood insurance claims have been filed, but most have yet to be closed out. What do you say?

How would you grade the federal response to Hurricane Sandy two months after the storm? If you are in need of help, what assistance are you receiving at FEMA centers? What would you like lawmakers in the new Senate and House of Representatives to focus on this year?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

It is appalling that Congress "decided" not to vote on a Sandy relief package. Not only is this a dereliction of duty, as Gov Christie put it, but also it is a criminal dereliction of duty. If someone is diagnosed with a disease requiring immediate treatment, it is life-threatening to postpone such treatment, and this is what is precisely what happening.More people will die because the congress decided not to do their jobs and go home!?!?!?!?!?

And these people ostensibly work for us! What a joke! Can we fire the person(s) who decided to postpone this vote? I don't think so. Sure, we don't have to vote for them again, but this is now--an emergency situation, and we are allowing thousands of people to continue suffering. If the persons responsible for not doing their jobs worked for me, they would be out of a job on the spot!

I grew up in Belle Harbor and now live in Brooklyn, and suffered consequences of the storm. Fortunately, I was able to evacuate, but cannot understand why residents in hard-hit areas have to wait and be subject to the whims of a group of lawmakers who seem to function unto themselves. Do they represent us or themselves?

Kathy
Belle Harbor and Brooklyn

When disaster strikes other country the U.S. front in line to help with the relief but when the disaster happens within our country, there at the back of the line to help. I not saying we shouldn't help other people around the world, but the citizen of this country comes first and we need help here in NY.

Wazir
Brooklyn, NY

As the nation prepares to have the New Congress sworn in,let us hope that this Congress will do what it was elected to do-to work for the benefit of the American people,and not become so polarized that it cannot do its job correctly.The last Congress was an absolute disgrace and abomination. It was just like a three ringed circus filled with clowns,and House Speaker John Boehner was the ringmaster. Every time a piece of legislation was brought before it, nothing was done!All that seemed to happen was that there was so much political grandstanding and infighting,that there was absolute lack of genuine concern for the American people.Now,we need a Congress that will get down to serious business-starting with an immediate approval of the entire 60 billion dollars that is needed to help the tristate area recover and rebuild following the devastating sweep of Hurricane Sandy last October 29th and 30th.The American people want a Congress that will work for them-not against them.

John
Fresh Meadows

I say let then pay more attention to the homeless persons from sandy.

People without electric, heat as we speak

Insurance companies don't want to cover the Losses we pay for

Will FEMA PAY WHAT National FLOOD DOES NOT

POTTERS BANKERS AND ROMAN TAX COLLECTORS RUN THAT SHOW

DUMP ALLSTATE FLOOD ANd HOMEOWNERS AND AUTO INSURANCE THEy ALL STINK AND .....

I am still waiting for "rapid repair" filed again and no response what a bunch of crap

Butch
Sheepshead Bay

The message is, you can't keep depending on government to pick the pockets of some citizens to pay off claims by other citizens. Anyone who lives in a flood zone who doesn't have flood insurance should not depend on money stolen by the government to rebuild.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

What happened to the politicians they looked scared to me. This time they knew we all meant business and finally they got the message that we are holding their feet to the fire. The nerve of them to think that they can try to please us and have us think they are helping us by opening a new disaster center and are trying to tell us that they are voting on an enormous amount of money to try to cover our expenses. Even Schumer look scared at the microphone and two faced/phony Bloomberg is like taking a back seat. This is not the time to make speeches and pass the buck from one to the other.

We all know you and your tactics and antics but this time we cannot and will not take these insults from any of you and I hope by the grace of god that all of you cronies are thrown the hell out of here once and for all. You all have creampuff jobs and so you seal the deal on your jobs by giving away free bees and this is what's got in trouble time after time and in the end you just get a free ride for however long you want. BUT THIS TIME IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANY ONE OF US THAT GOT WIPED OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME AND IN GENERAL THEIR LIVES JUST PASSED THEM ALL BY AND THEY ALL ENDED UP WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO.

You people just were there to take your photo ops with the president.

I myself was without electricity and hot water for 4 days and I had to throw out
3 shopping carts full of food. [BUT I STILL GOT MY CON ED BILL]

I certainly did not see any of you politicians in your boots on the ground.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday because many did not.

THERE IS STILL TO MUCH PORK IN THESE DEALS THAT YOU ALL MAKE TO SATISFY YOURSELVES.

maxxiee
mp

I am not surprised about the Congressional lack of action on post-Sandy aid. The main problem is that the representatives who are most responsible for the failure of Congress to do anything to help Sandy victims, are not from here, do not depend on NY voters to stay in office, and frankly hate us, just because we are in the New York metropolitan area. The NY Daily News hit the bullseye when they pointed out the discrepancy between the number of days needed to vote for aid post-Katrina, with the lack of action to help Sandy victims. Our only hope (in terms of those haters in the House) is for decent people in their districts, to call them on it, and demand that they do the morally proper thing.

Faye from Brooklyn

I give The Federal Gov an S and that's for snail , for God's sake !! this is NYC, the greatest city in the world, not a 3rd country, where things don't get done, I should know, I come from one.

Carmen, Bay Ridge

What I like to see happen is that if NY1 could team up with Brian Williams from NBC/MSNBC and Don Lemon from CNN and I would like to give them a walkin tour of these areas of devastation and let Americans and the world see the Northeast Katrina.

If the world could see the state of the boroughs and NJ and Conn. they would be stunned that the real NYers are hurting. When NYers start dying from pnuemonia, exhaustion, from working night and day maybe the world will believe that the Hurricane may be gone, but, an economic and healthcare tsunami is battering people who are already broken and down on their knees. Just seems like the tail is wagging the dog if you ask me!

It is just plain wrong and is shameful...people take better care of animals in shelters and in the Bronx Zoo.

kathy from Throggs Neck da bronx

Boehner cancelled and then delayed the vote for Sandy aid, because he got into a spat with House Majority leader Eric Cantor. He should have lost his Speakership for this petty & childish decision, but instead today the Republicans including Peter King AGAIN elected him Speaker. NY, NJ, and CT should remember who our friends are in 2014.

-Dan from Rego Park

After Katrina there were accusations of neglect because most of the residents were African American so they acted quickly in 10 days. I think a case could be made that a lot of people in the country wrongly look upon the Northeast victims as "rich white people" so the hell with them - let 'em wait. This is reverse discrimination!

-Virginia
Todt Hill

I think it is ridiculous that there is a delay to helping the people who are living in the "financial" backbone of this country, NYC. They need to stop embarrassing themselves and ruining our country by their stupid shenanigans. People are suffering and need help yesterday.

It is heartwrenching and disgusting.

Sincerely,
A Very Concerned New Yorker

When hear about that poor excuse representative Bonebrain, he pisses me off. He and his Republican cronies have given NY and the East Coast the middle finger. I have no confidence in Republicans trying to help. They'll probably say aw poor New Yorkers. Governor Cuomo is doing a good job! He's looking out for his constituents.

Raymond, South Ozone Park

1) NY & NJ should get together and not remit any more tax monies to the feds until we reach the $60 billion sum, and that tax money should then be used for the clean-up.

2) It’s been said before because NY always gets screwed by the feds, but now is the time for NYC to become the 51st State and keep all their income.

Walter
New Dorp