"We are not crying wolf here," said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., part of a group of Northeastern lawmakers from both parties seeking passage of legislation roughly in line with what the Obama administration and governors of the affected states sought.

Democrats were more politically pointed as they brushed back Southern conservatives who sought either to reduce the measure or offset part of its cost through spending cuts elsewhere in the budget.

"I just plead with my colleagues not to have a double standard," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York. "Not to vote tornado relief to Alabama, to Louisiana, to Mississippi, Missouri, to — with Ike, Gustav, Katrina, Rita — but when it comes to the Northeast, with the second worst storm in the history of our country, to delay, delay, delay."

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The ship, which left Italy in on Oct. 7, hoped to bring "humanitarian cargo such as cement, and goodwill items such as children's books" to the besieged Palestinians.

The Estelle is among a series of aid ships which Israel has stopped from reaching Gaza, including the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which Israel naval commandos boarded, killing nine activists.

The Guardian noted following the Estelle's thwarted mission, "Israel maintains a tight naval blockade of Gaza, which it maintains is necessary to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas and other Palestinian militants."

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