[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 AGENCY




June 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.