House vote on 9/11 benefits bill was held open for New York Rep. Velazquez

The bill was approved by the House 206-60. It now goes to the president's desk for his signature.

One-hundred sixty-eight members, including Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-Ohio), did not vote. Seventy-nine Democrats and 89 Republicans opted against returning for Wednesday's session three days before Christmas.

New York Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney told reporters Democratic leaders were worried that they wouldn't have a quorum of members needed to conduct House business, and called back as many members as they could.

Maloney said that leaders "were sweating it." Nadler added, "we had members flying back. Nydia Velazquez flew back from Puerto Rico."

According to Maloney and Nadler, on Tuesday night, Velaquez thought the House wouldn't actually vote on the 9/11 bill that had been stuck in the Senate.

The native Puerto Rican's mother has been sick, so she opted to hop on a flight south before waiting to find out if the Senate would approve the 9/11 bill.

Velazquez's office did not comment for this story.

Other lawmakers had also left for home last night after the House approved a government funding bill. Members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York were called back to D.C. on Wednesday when it became apparent that the Senate would vote on the bill.