In response to the disastrous hurricane season, Congress has approved two measures that would offer financial aid to Floridians. One provides $11.6 billion in disaster aid for damage caused by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne, and the other allows the deduction of state sales taxes from 2004 and 2005 federal tax returns.

“Today was a big day for hurricane-weary Floridians who desperately need aid,” said Sen. Bill Nelson (D.- Fla.). “The disaster relief will go a long way to help hurricane victims recover and the tax reform will correct a longstanding inequity at a time when Floridians can really use a break in their federal taxes.”

The hurricane assistance comes in addition to $2 billion that was allocated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency following Hurricane Charley. The measure, contained in the military construction spending bill, will fund a broader range of federal agencies involved in hurricane relief that includes the Department of Transportation, Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and FEMA.