U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

99–012 2011

112th Congress, 1st Session – – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 112–56 

BUDGET REQUEST FOR DISASTER RESPONSE NEEDS 

THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2012 

MESSAGE 

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRANSMITTING

A BUDGET REQUEST FOR DISASTER RESPONSE NEEDS THROUGH 

FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2012 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011.—Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 

ordered to be printed 


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THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, DC, September 9, 2011. 

Hon. JOHN A. BOEHNER, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed 

budget request for disaster response needs through Fiscal Year 

(FY) 2012. It includes a supplemental appropriations request for 

FY 2011 of $500 million and a budget amendment for FY 2012 of 

$4.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. 

The proposed totals for FY 2011 and FY 2012 would increase by 

$5.1 billion as a result of this request. The additional funding 

would fund disaster response needs in the Disaster Relief Fund, including approximately $1.5 billion for the Federal share of costs to 

respond to Hurricane Irene. 

This request responds to urgent and essential needs. The supplemental appropriations request would be designated as an emergency requirement. The request for FY 2012 in the budget amendment would constitute disaster relief within the meaning of section 

251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 

1985, as amended by the Budget Control Act of 2011, and would 

therefore adjust the discretionary spending levels for FY 2012 pursuant to section 251. The details of this request are set forth in the 

enclosed letter from the Director of the Office of Management and 

Budget. 

Sincerely, 

BARACK OBAMA. 

Enclosure. 


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[Estimate No. 1, 112th Cong., 1st Sess.] 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, 

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, 

Washington, DC, September 9, 2011. 

The PRESIDENT, The White House. 

Submitted for your consideration is a supplemental appropriations request for FY 2011 of $500 million and a budget amendment 

of $4.6 billion to your FY 2012 Budget for the Department of 

Homeland Security. 

The proposed totals for FY 2011 and FY 2012 would increase by 

$5.1 billion as a result of this request. The additional funding 

would fund disaster response needs in the Disaster Relief Fund, including approximately $1.5 billion for the Federal share of costs to 

respond to Hurricane Irene. 

Department of Homeland Security 

Through the Disaster Relief Fund, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides a significant portion of the total 

Federal response to Presidentially-declared major disasters and 

emergencies. Primary assistance programs include Federal assistance to individuals and households, public assistance, which includes the repair and reconstruction of State, local, and nonprofit 

infrastructure, and hazard mitigation assistance. 

This proposal requests an additional $5.1 billion of which $3.6 

billion is for the continued response and recovery efforts associated 

with prior large events and $1.5 billion for the estimated costs associated with the response to and recovery from Hurricane Irene 

that will impact the Disaster Relief Fund through FY 2012. The $5.1 billion includes $500 million in supplemental appropria- tions for FY 2011 and $4.6 billion for increased costs in FY 2012. 

This is in addition to the $1.8 billion already included in the FY 

2012 Budget. The supplemental appropriations, which would be 

designated as an emergency requirement, are needed to ensure 

that the Disaster Relief Fund has adequate resources to meet 

needs in the remaining weeks of the fiscal year. The budget amendment request for FY 2012 constitutes disaster relief within the 

meaning of section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 

Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended by the Budget Control Act 

of 2011, and would trigger an adjustment in the ceiling for discretionary spending pursuant to section 251. As such, the $4.6 billion 

budget amendment would be included in an adjustment to the discretionary cap in FY 2012. 

This proposal includes funds only for FEMA’s Disaster Relief 

Fund. The potential need for additional funding for disaster relief 

in other agencies is currently under review. If additional funding 

is warranted, an additional budget amendment may be required. 


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Recommendation 

This request fulfills known and urgent needs for the Disaster Relief Fund, and I recommend that you propose the budget amendment and supplemental request. Therefore, I join the Secretary of 

Homeland Security in recommending that you transmit this proposal to the Congress. 

Sincerely, 

JACOB J. LEW, 

Director. 

Enclosure. 


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FY 2011 Supplemental Proposal 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

DISASTER RELIEF

For an additional amount for ‘‘Disaster Relief’’ for necessary expenses under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) for recent natural disasters, 

including Hurricane Irene, $500,000,000, to remain available until 

expended: Provided, That the Congress designates this amount as 

an emergency requirement for these specific purposes. 

This request would provide an additional $500 million to the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster response associated with Hurricane Irene and other declared events. This 

funding would address a potential shortfall through the end of the 

fiscal year to ensure that Federal disaster response and relief efforts continue unimpeded. 


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FY 2011 Budget Amendment 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

DISASTER RELIEF

FY 2012 Budget Appendix Page: 543. 

FY 2012 Pending Request: $1,800,000,000 

Proposed Amendment: $4,600,000,000 

FY 2012 Revised Request: $6,400,000,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, insert 

before the first colon: and, in addition, $4,600,000,000, to remain 

available until expended, which is designated by Congress as being 

for disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of the Balanced 

Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99– 

177), as amended.) 

This amendment would provide an additional $4.6 billion for the 

Disaster Relief account and would increase the pending $1.8 billion 

in the FY 2012 Budget to $6.4 billion. 

Of the proposed $4.6 billion, $3.6 billion is needed in FY 2012 for 

the continued response and recovery efforts associated with prior 

large events, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, the 2008 Midwest floods, and the 2011 

spring tornadoes. Also included in the $4.6 billion are the costs associated with the response to and recovery from Hurricane Irene 

that are likely to impact the Disaster Relief Fund in FY 2012. 

Through the Disaster Relief Fund, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides a significant portion of the total Federal 

response to Presidentially-declared major disasters and emergencies. Primary assistance programs include Federal assistance to 

individuals and households, public assistance, and hazard mitigation assistance, which includes the repair and reconstruction of 

State, local, and nonprofit infrastructure. 

Æ 


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