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[House Document 112-56]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

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
                                           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.
                [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 
appropriations 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.

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.
                     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.
                        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.

                                  
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