2004 Budget of the United States Government - request to make available funds for the disaster relief program

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1 19–012 2003 108th Congress, 1st Session – – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 108–75 A REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING A REQUEST TO MAKE AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR THE DISASTER RELIIE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY MAY 22, 2003.—Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed VerDate Jan 31 2003 18:38 May 24, 2003 Jkt 019012 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4012 Sfmt 4012 E:\HR\OC\HD075.XXX HD075 E:\Seals\Congress.#13VerDate Jan 31 2003 18:38 May 24, 2003 Jkt 019012 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4012 Sfmt 4012 E:\HR\OC\HD075.XXX HD075(1) THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, May 22, 2003. Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: In accordance with provisions of Public Law 107–73, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002, I hereby request and make available $250 million for the disaster relief program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These funds would allow DHS to continue providing assistance for disasters in several States, including the recovery from damaggin winter storms on the East Coast and recent tornado disasters in the Midwest. These funds also would be available for ongoing respoons to prior disasters and to ensure that DHS has resources on hand to provide timely response to future disasters. I designate these funds made available today as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budgee 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 the Office of Management and Budget. I concur with his comments and observations. Sincerely, GEORGE W. BUSH. VerDate Jan 31 2003 18:38 May 24, 2003 Jkt 019012 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 E:\HR\OC\HD075.XXX HD075VerDate Jan 31 2003 18:38 May 24, 2003 Jkt 019012 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 E:\HR\OC\HD075.XXX HD075(3) [Estimate No. 11, 108th Cong., 1st Sess.] EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, Washington, DC, May 21, 2003. The PRESIDENT, The White House. Submitted for your consideration is a request to make available previously appropriated contingent emergency funds for the Emergeenc Preparedness and Response Directorate (EP&R) of the Departtmen of Homeland Security (DHS). These funds were made contingent upon your submission of a budget request to the Congrres that includes designation of the amount requested as an emergency requirement. Title III of P.L. 107–73, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriiation Act, 2002, provided $1.5 billion in contingent emergeenc appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief program, which is now part of DHS. To date, $1.25 billion of these funds have been made available. Your approval of this request would make available the remaining $0.25 billion for disaster relief for any previously declared disasters, incluudin the recovery from damaging winter storms on the East Coast and recent tornado disasters in the Midwest. The funds also would be available for ongoing response to prior disasters and to ensure that EP&R has resources on hand to provide timely respoons to future disasters. I recommend that you designate this request for $0.25 billion 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. I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of DHS in recommending that you make the requested funds available by signing the enclosed letter to the Speaker of the House of Representtatives Sincerely, MITCHELL E. DANIELS, Jr., Director. Enclosure. EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS: AMOUNTS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED MADE AVAILABLE BY THE PRESIDENT Department of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness and Response: Disaster Relief ............ $250,000,000 Title III of P.L. 107–73, the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Ap-VerDate Jan 31 2003 21:37 May 24, 2003 Jkt 019012 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HD075.XXX HD0754 propriation Act, 2002, provided $1.5 billion in emergency funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), contingeen upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congrres and designating the amount requested as an emergency requireement (FEMA’s disaster relief program is now part of the Departtmen of Homeland Security (DHS).) To date, $1.25 billion of these funds have been made available. The President recently declared disasters in many Eastern States due to severe winter storms and some Midwestern States due to tornadoes. DHS is playing a large role in the response and recovery and is working with State and local authorities to provide assistance to the affected areas. This request would make available the remaining $0.25 billion of contingent emergency funding for disaster relief activities associated with these recent disasters, as well as continuing response to prior disasters and other disaster reliie activities. Æ VerDate Jan 31 2003 18:38 May 24, 2003 Jkt 019012 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6611 E:\HR\OC\HD075.XXX HD075