[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.