[House Document 108-107] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108- 107 INTENTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND __________ COMMUNICATION from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting NOTIFICATION OF THE INTENTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNDJuly 23, 2003.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed The White House, Washington, July 23, 2003. Hon. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Speaker: In order to continue the necessary and critical responses to the September 11 terrorist attacks, I am notifying the Congress of my intent to reallocate funds previously transferred from the Emergency Response Fund (ERF). At this time, $5 million of ERF funds will be transferred to the Food and Drug Administration to support activities to improve the security of the food supply. The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Sincerely, George W. Bush. [Estimate No. 14, 108th Cong., 1st Sess.] Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, July 22, 2003. The President, The White House. Submitted for your consideration is a request to reallocate funds provided in P.L. 107-38, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States, FY 2001, to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To improve the security of the food supply, the Administration now proposes to reallocate $5 million in Emergency Response Fund resources previously transferred to the Small Business Administration (SBA). In April 2003, the Congress was notified that these funds were available for transfer because they were in excess of identified disaster loan needs related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. At that time, we proposed that these funds be used to support the mission of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. However, Congress provided the Commission the necessary funds to complete its mission in the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, P.L. 108-11. FDA is actively working to keep the Nation's food supply secure from intentional contamination by terrorists. This $5 million will support increased FDA research on mitigation strategies to prevent intentional contamination of food with biological and chemical agents. Pursuant to P.L. 107-38, these funds will be made available immediately after this designation is forwarded to the Congress. I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the FDA Commissioner in recommending your approval of the requested transfer. Sincerely, Joshua B. Bolten, Director. Enclosure. Reallocation of Amounts Previously Appropriated and Transferred from the Emergency Response Fund Available Immediately: Department of Health and Human Services: Food and Drug Administration Salaries and Expenses................ $5,000,000 This funding, to be transferred from the Emergency Response Fund pursuant to P.L. 107-38, will assist the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the protection of the national food supply from intentional contamination by terrorists. FDA will conduct research to evaluate mitigation strategies to prevent intentional contamination of the food supply.