[House Document 107-112] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 107th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-112 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 AGENCYAugust 1, 2001.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed __________ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 89-012 WASHINGTON : 2001 The White House, Washington, July 31, 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 $583,133,000 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 several States, victims of recent storms and flooding in Montana, Texas, West Virginia, and Virginia, and other declared disasters. These funds also will be available to ensure that FEMA has resources on hand to provide timely responses to future disaster. 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. Enclosure. [Estimate No. 10, 107th Cong., 1st Sess.] Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, July 31, 2001. The President, The White House. Submitted for your consideration is a request to make available to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) previously appropriated contingent emergency. 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 $583.1 million for disaster relief for previously declared disasters, including victims of Tropical Storm Allison in several States, victims of recent storms and flooding in Montana, Texas, West Virginia, and Virginia, 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 12, 2001, you made $700 million of this funding available to FEMA to address needs associated with the Seattle Earthquake and other disasters. On June 25, 2001, you made available $500 million to address the needs of States affected by Tropical Storm Allison and other disasters. You recently declared disasters in the States of Montana and Virginia--and a prior declaration for West Virginia has been expanded--for damage caused by storms and flooding. FEMA has been working with State and local authorities to provide assistance to the affected areas. This request would make available the remaining FY 2000 emergency funding for disaster relief activities associated with these recent disasters, including continuing response to Tropical Storm Allison, and other disaster relief activities. I recommend that you designate this request for $583.1 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.............................................. $583,133,000 The FY 2000 Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act included $2.5 billion in emergency funding for FEMA, 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 12, 2001, the President made $700.0 million of this funding available to FEMA to address needs associated with the Seattle Earthquake and other disasters. On June 25, 2001, the President made $500.0 million available to address the needs of States affected by Tropical Storm Allison and other disasters. The President recently declared disasters in the States of Montana and Virginia--and a prior declaration for West Virginia was expanded--for damage caused by storms and flooding. FEMA has been working with State and local authorities to provide assistance to the affected areas. This request would make available the remaining FY 2000 emergency funding of $583.1 million for disaster relief activities associated with these recent disasters, including continuing response to Tropical Storm Allison, and other disaster activities.