[House Document 107-90] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 107th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-90 REQUEST TO USE PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED CONTINGENT FUNDS __________ COMMUNICATION from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting A REQUEST TO MAKE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCYJune 26, 2001.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed The White House, Washington, June 25, 2001. The Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sir: In accordance with provisions of P.L. 106-74, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000, I hereby request and make available $500 million for the Disaster Relief program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These funds will allow FEMA to continue providing assistance to victims of Tropical Storm Allison in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Florida, a well as victims of other declared disasters. These funds also will be available to ensure that FEMA has resources on hand to provide timely responses to future disasters. I designate the funds made available today as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. The details of this action are set forth in the attached letter from the Director of Management and Budget. I concur with his comments and observations. Sincerely, George W. Bush. [Estimate No. 8, 107th Cong. 1st Sess.] Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, June 25, 2001. The President, The White House. Submitted for your consideration is a request to make available previously appropriated contingent funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funding provided was made contingent upon your submission of a budget request to the Congress that includes designation of the amount requested as an emergency requirement. Your approval of this request would make available $500 million for disaster relief for previously declared disasters, including victims of Tropical Storm Allison in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Florida, and other declared disasters. These funds also would be available to ensure that FEMA has resources on hand to provide timely responses to future disasters. At the beginning of your Administration, $1.8 billion was available in contingent emergency appropriations for FEMA's disaster relief program. On April 11, 2001, you made $700 million of this funding available to FEMA to address needs associated with the Seattle Earthquake and other disasters. You recently declared disasters in the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Florida due to the flood and other damage caused by Tropical Storm Allison. FEMA has been working with State and local authorities to provide assistance to the affected areas. This request would make available $500 million for these and other disaster relief activities. An additional $583 million in previously appropriated contingent emergency funds would remain to address future disaster requirements should the need arise. I recommend that you designate this request for $500 million as an emergency requirement in accordance with section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. No further congressional action will be required. I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Director of FEMA in recommending that you make the requested funds available by signing the enclosed letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sincerely, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., Director. Enclosure. Emergency Appropriations: Amounts Previously Appropriated Made Available by the President Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief......................................... $500,000,000 The FY 2000 Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, included $2.5 billion in emergency funding, contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the amount requested as an emergency requirement. At the beginning of this Administration, $1.8 billion was available in contingent emergency appropriations for FEMA's disaster relief program. On April 11, 2001, the President made $700 million of this funding available to FEMA to address needs associated with the Seattle Earthquake and other disasters. The President recently declared disasters in the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Florida due to the flood and other damage caused by Tropical Storm Allison. FEMA has been working with State and local authorities to provide assistance to the affected areas. This request would make available $500 million for these and other disaster relief activities. An additional $583 million in previously appropriated contingent emergency funds would remain to address future disaster requirements should the need arise.