WASHINGTON — The political tempest stirred up by Superstorm Sandy appears to have moved on after wreaking havoc among congressional Republicans divided over how much aid to allocate to the victims.

In a 241-180 vote Tuesday night, the House approved $50.5 billion in disaster relief for Sandy victims. The Senate is expected to accept the measure early next week and send it to President Barack Obama.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, of Butler voted against the bill.

“While the House bill is not quite as good as the Senate bill, it is certainly close enough,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

House Democrats supported the aid package in large numbers Tuesday night, but substantial Republican backing was needed for its passage in the GOP-controlled House: 192 Democrats and 49 Republicans voted to pass it.

The victory was tinged with some bitterness for Northeast lawmakers who have complained that Congress approved tens of billions of dollars in aid within days of Hurricane Katrina but dragged their feet for more than two months on Sandy aid.

Sandy pounded several states in late October and has been blamed for 140 deaths and billions of dollars in residential and business property damage. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were hardest hit. Power outages and interruptions to public transportation made life miserable for millions.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., called it an “outstanding victory for the people of New York, New Jersey and Long Island,” but he added that “it is unfortunate that we had to fight so hard to be treated the same as every other state has been treated.”