WASHINGTON (AP) – The US Congress has earmarked US$100 million in hurricane relief for the Caribbean from a $14.5-billion (euro11.7 billion) disaster bill sent to President George Bush yesterday, designed to help hurricane victims and producers of everything from cotton to clams harmed by drought, flooding and other emergencies.

The election-season package was attached to a $10-billion (euro8 billion) military construction bill and approved by the Senate by voice vote. The House gave it initial approval on Saturday by 374-0.

The bulk of the aid – $11.6 billion (euro9.36 billion) – was to help Florida and other East Coast states rebuild from Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jeanne and Ivan, which roared through during a six-week period in August and September.

Congress last month approved an initial $2-billion (euro1.6 billion) request from President George W Bush.

The bill’s remaining $2.9 billion (euro2.34 billion) was for farmers and ranchers hurt by drought and other natural disasters.

Haiti, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries hit by Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne will get $100 million (euro$80.7 million), but the specific amounts for individual territories was not immediately clear.

Some funds were destined for pivotal states like South Dakota, where Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle faces a tough re-election fight, and Ohio, which Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Sen John Kerry each want to win on Election Day.

Tucked into the bill is $9 million (euro7.26 million) for the US government to restore oyster reefs off the coasts of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi damaged by the hurricanes. There is $10 million (euro8 million) for timber producers, and $8.5 million (euro6.9 million) for pecan growers.

Unspecified sums are provided for producers of cotton, peanuts, tobacco, clams, hay, sod, shrimp, and lobsters.

Also included is language permitting the government to guarantee up to $18 billion (euro14.5 billion) in loans for construction of a proposed pipeline shipping natural gas from Alaska to the lower 48 states.

The Senate also gave final approval yesterday to a $33-billion (euro26.6 billion) measure financing the Department of Homeland Security.

Congress has now completed four of the 13 annual spending bills for the federal budget year that started October 1.

Congressional leaders hope to finish at least some of them during a post-election session that starts in mid-November.

But the likelihood is growing that at least some agencies will have to function until at least early next year at last year’s spending levels.