The $50.5 billion dollar Sandy Relief package that passed the US House earlier this month, has passed the US Senate and will now head to President Obama's desk for his signature.

The Senate vote was 62 to 36, just two votes more than was needed for passage. Several Republicans crossed over to support the emergency aid. But Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey spoke for most of the opposition when he questioned the need for tens of billions of dollars for long term infrastructure work in the emergency aid bill.

"Now is that an important expenditure by the Federal government? Probably is. Probably should be a high priority. But is it an emergency?" Toomey asked rhetorically.

Senator Charles Schumer  countered that New York's Congressional delegation had a long tradition of voting for disaster aid for other parts of the country without strings attached.

"We have sent our tax dollars, billions of them, and now all of the sudden some are suggesting we should change the rules when we are hit by the first major natural disaster to hit the New York City region in a very long time." 

After the Senate vote, President Obama issued a statement pledging to sign the bill.

"For the families working to put their lives back together, every day without relief is one day too many," he said. "So while I had hoped Congress would provide this aid sooner, I applaud the lawmakers from both parties who helped shepherd this important package though."

 The relief bill includes $16 billion dollars in Community Development Block grants for local rebuilding, $13 billion for long term storm mitigation for the northeast, a $11.5 billion infusion into FEMA's disaster relief fund, and $10.9 billion for transportation projects.

Governors Christie and Cuomo initially estimated the cost in Sandy related damages to New Jersey and New York were in excess of $80 billion dollars.