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[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.

                                  
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