Photo: Vern Buchanan, Greg Steube.

As President Joe Biden’s term winds down, he signed a number of bills, including one filed by U.S. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota. He also signed a defense package including a number of legislative initiatives introduced by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota.

The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which Steube pushed for throughout the last legislative term, will now allow individuals in federally declared disaster areas to claim disaster-related losses without itemizing deductions. The new law also eliminates a 10% adjusted gross income threshold before claiming losses and ensures settlements for disaster victims are tax-free.

The legislation was especially important to this region, Steube said, in the wake of several major hurricanes impacting Sarasota County in the last three years.

“The devastation caused by disasters doesn’t stop at state borders or political lines—it affects every Floridian and every American,” he said. “This bipartisan effort delivers relief to communities across the nation, whether they’re recovering from a hurricane, wildfire, or another tragedy. For Florida, where we’ve faced the brunt of multiple hurricanes in recent years, this law means real help for families and businesses working to rebuild. I will never stop fighting for Floridians and ensuring our communities come back stronger and more resilient than ever.”

Buchanan saw eight measures signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, a bipartisan defense package. Those include expansion of fitness and academic  initiatives in the military and safety improvement requirements for Navy amphibious and combat vehicles, as well as an effort to reduce obesity in military ranks while improving access to health care. He also introduced legislation honoring service members killed in an airport terrorist attack in Afghanistan and resuming the use of horse-drawn carriages at military funerals at Arlington Cemetery.

“My proposals signed into law as part of the final NDAA will strengthen our alliances and honor the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces. This legislation reflects our unwavering commitment to America’s servicemembers and their families,” Buchanan said.

He also sponsored a telehealth expansion allowing more access in geographically isolated areas that was signed into law. “Making telehealth services available to patients regardless of their location is a major win for the nearly two hundred thousand seniors in my district and anyone in need of accessible, convenient care,” Buchanan said.

Photo: Vern Buchanan, Greg Steube.