[House Document 109-52] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 109th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 109-52 REQUESTS FOR FY 2005 BUDGET AMENDMENTS __________ COMMUNICATION from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY FY 2005 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND DEFENSE.September 2, 2005.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed The White House, Washington, September 1, 2005. Hon. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Speaker: As I informed the Nation yesterday, we are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in our country's history. Residents of the Gulf Coast States affected by the hurricane have lost loved ones, have lost homes, and have been displaced from their communities. My Administration is committed to ensuring that they will have the full support of the Federal Government. Due to the catastrophic nature of Hurricane Katrina, I am asking the Congress to consider expeditiously the enclosed request, totaling $10.5 billion, for an emergency FY 2005 supplemental appropriation for the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense. These funds will ensure that Federal response and recovery efforts continue uninterrupted I hereby designate this proposal in the amount requested herein as an emergency requirement. This request responds to urgent needs associated with immediate response and recovery efforts associated with Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and other affected areas. The enclosed request requires immediate action by the Congress to ensure that the Federal response to this disaster continues uninterrupted. I anticipate making a further request in the coming weeks that will provide for a comprehensive response and recovery effort after fully assessing the impact of the hurricane. The details of this request are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Sincerely, George W. Bush [Estimate No. 11, 109th Cong., 1st Sess.] Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, September 1, 2005. The President, The White House. Submitted for your consideration is a request for fiscal year 2005 supplemental appropriations totaling $10.5 billion to fund immediate emergency response and recovery needs associated with Hurricane Katrina. Immediate Federal response and recovery efforts to date have been extensive. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has deployed more than 50 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, more than 25 Urban Search and Rescue task forces, eight swift water rescue teams, and two Incident Support Teams to the region. FEMA is also delivering water, meals, medical supplies, generators, tents, and tarps and is working to help relocate those displaced by the hurriance. The Department of Defense (DOD) is moving significant military resources into the Gulf States to aid in rescue and recovery. Eight Navy ships have moved into the area with water, food, medicine, hospital facilities, berthing, and more. DOD has responded to all FEMA requests and is providing logistical help, including strategic life support for search and rescue efforts. Other agencies are also participating in response and recovery efforts. For example, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt has declared a public health emergency and HHS has delivered requested medical supplies to Louisiana, including basic first aid material, blankets and patient clothing and comprehensive life-saving medical equipment. HHS has placed 415 Public Health Service Officers on stand-by for deployment to support medical response to the affected states and CDC officials are working with local officials to identify hospital facilities, distributing medical supplies, and execute a public health plan to control disease and other risks to public health. The funds that I recommend you request today will ensure that these immediate response and recovery efforts continue uninterrupted. The $10 billion request for the Department of Homeland Security will enable FEMA to continue ongoing response efforts, including assistance to families and individuals so that they can be sheltered, fed and provided with emergency medical care. These funds will also support emergency protective measures and debris removal in the affected areas, and urgent response activities performed by other Federal agencies, as delegated by FEMA under the Stafford Act. The $500 million requested for DOD will enable DOD to cover the costs associated with deployment of military personnel to assist communities, save lives, and provide relief supplies for the next several weeks. DOD's immediate crisis response costs include immediate facilities repair of DOD property, evacuation of DOD personnel, debris clean-up, transportation costs, and emergency utility costs. I anticipate recommending to you an additional request in the coming weeks to provide for a comprehensive response to this hurricane, once reliable estimates can be developed that recognize the extent of this disaster. This request fulfills known and urgent requirements that cannot reasonably be met under the current FY 2005 funding levels. I recommend that you designate the proposal contained in this transmittal as an emergency requirement. I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense in recommending you transmit the proposal to the Congress. Sincerely, Joshua B. Bolten, Director. Enclosure. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Operation and Maintenance OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'', $500,000,000 for emergency hurricane expenses, to support costs of evacuation, emergency repairs, deployment of personnel, and other costs resulting from immediate relief efforts, to remain available until September 30, 2006: Provided, That the Secretary of Defense may transfer these funds to appropriations for military personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; family housing; and Defense Health Program; and working capital funds: Provided further, That funds transferred shall be merged with and be available for the same purposes and for the same time period as the appropriation or fund to which transferred: Provided further, That this transfer authority is in addition to any other transfer authority available to the Department of Defense: Provided further, That upon a determination that all or part of the funds transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the purposes provided herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this appropriation: Provided further, That Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose. This request would provide additional funds to the Department of Defense (DOD) to cover the costs associated with deployment of military personnel to assist communities, save lives, and provide relief supplies for the next several weeks. DOD's immediate crisis response costs include immediate facilities repairs of DOD property, evacuation of DOD personnel, debris clean-up, transportation costs, and emergency utility costs. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Emergency Preparedness and Response DISASTER RELIEF FUND For an additional amount for necessary expenses under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 942 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), $10,000,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose. This request would provide an additional $10 billion for the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster relief associated with Hurricane Katrina. This funding will support ongoing response efforts, including assistance to families and individuals so that they can be sheltered, fed and provided with emergency medical care. Additionally, the funding will support emergency protective measures and debris removal in the affected areas, and urgent response activities performed by other Federal agencies pursuant to mission assignments from FEMA under the Stafford Act. This request ensures that Federal disaster response and relief efforts will continue uninterrupted while more detailed damage assessments are completed.