U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

69–012 2008

110th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 110–141 

A REQUEST FOR BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL 

YEAR 2009 

COMMUNICATION 

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRANSMITTING

A REQUEST FOR FY 2009 BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, EDUCATION, 

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOMELAND SECURITY, THE INTERIOR, LABOR, AND STATE, AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL 

PROTECTION AGENCY 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2008.—Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 

ordered to be printed 


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THE WHITE HOUSE

Washington, August 1, 2008. 

Hon. NANCY PELOSI, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed amendments to my FY 2009 Budget for the Departments of 

Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, 

Homeland Security, the Interior, Labor, and State, as well as the 

Environmental Protection Agency. The amounts requested are fully 

offset by proposed reductions to other accounts. 

Overall, the discretionary budget authority proposed in my FY 

2009 Budget would not be increased by these proposed requests. 

The details of these amendments are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. 

Sincerely, 

GEORGE W. BUSH. 


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[Estimate No. 7, 110th Cong., 2nd Session] 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, 

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, 

Washington, DC, July 31, 2008. 

The PRESIDENT, The White House. 

Submitted for your consideration are amendments to your FY 

2009 Budget for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, the Interior, Labor, and State, as well as the Environmental Protection 

Agency. These requests include proposed increases to accounts that 

would be fully offset by proposed cancellations or reductions of 

funding from lower-priority Federal programs and excess funds. 

Also included are requests for technical adjustments to amendments previously transmitted to the Congress. Further, the requests include adjustments that reflect necessary appropriations 

language changes to update your Budget to be consistent with enactment of Pub. L. No. 110–246, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). 

Overall, the discretionary budget authority proposed in your FY 

2009 Budget would not be increased by these proposed amendments. As described below and in more detail in the enclosures, the 

amendments include the following: 

Department of Agriculture 

$172.3 million proposed increase for the first year stabilization 

and development cost associated with a plan to modernize the computer systems of the Farm Service Agency, and for implementation 

costs resulting from enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill. 

$192.3 million in proposed decreases within the Department to 

fully offset the Farm Service Agency request, as well as to partially 

offset other increases proposed in this transmittal. 

$43.0 million proposed additional net decreases in the Department of Agriculture that reflect adjustments made to update the 

Budget request to be consistent with enactment of the 2008 Farm 

Bill. 

Department of Education 

$50.0 million proposed increase for the Office of Federal Student 

Aid to ensure sufficient resources to implement student loan purchase authority provided in the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–227); pay for increased 

servicing costs associated with any increase in Direct Loan volume; 

to implement the Lender of Last Resort program authorized in the 

Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1078(j); and to conduct an independent audit of the student loan purchase authority. 


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Department of Commerce 

$13.0 million proposed increase for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve hurricane intensity and track 

forecasting. 

Department of Health and Human Services 

$905.0 million proposed increase for the Public Health and Social 

Services (PHSSEF) to enhance the Nation’s preparedness against 

a bioterrorist event through the advanced development of priority 

medical countermeasures and activities that support the distribution and dispensing of medical countermeasures. This funding 

would also improve the Nation’s preparedness in the event of an 

influenza pandemic. 

$939.8 million reduction within the Department to fully offset 

the PHSSEF request, as well as to partially offset other increases 

proposed in this transmittal. 

Department of the Interior 

$11.7 million proposed increase to fund remediation efforts within the Naval Oil Shale Reserve 3 in Colorado that would be fully 

offset by an $11.7 million proposed decrease of unobligated balances within the Department. 

Department of Homeland Security 

$27.0 million proposed increase for the Office of Health Affairs 

to strengthen the Nation’s preparedness against a bioterrorist 

event through the enhancement of the BioWatch environmental 

monitoring system. This proposal would be fully offset by a $27 

million reduction with the Department. 

Environmental Protection Agency 

$34.8 million increase in total for the Science and Technology 

and the Hazardous Substance Superfund accounts to address gaps 

in responding to and recovering from an anthrax attack. These proposed increases would be fully offset by proposed reductions to 

other accounts in this transmittal. 

Other technical amendments 

Amendments to previously submitted proposals that impact the 

Departments of Homeland Security, Labor, and State. 

Recommendation 

I have reviewed these requests and am satisfied that they are 

necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the heads of the affected 

agencies in recommending that you transmit the proposals to the 

Congress. 

Sincerely, 

JIM NUSSLE, 

Director. 

Enclosures. 


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

FARM SERVICE AGENCY

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Pages: 105–106 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $1,188,580,000 

Proposed Amendment: $172,309,000 

Revised Request: $1,360,889,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘$1,188,580,000’’ and substitute, $1,360,889,000 and add the following new proviso following the last bracket and before the period:) 

Provided further, That of the amounts made available, 

$117,309,000 shall be for the first year stabilization and development cost associated with a plan to modernize the computer systems 

of the Farm Service Agency. 

This amendment would provide an additional $172.3 million for 

the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Salaries and Expenses account. Of 

this amount, $117.3 million would be for the first year stabilization 

and development costs associated with a plan to modernize the 

FSA computer systems. The remaining $55.0 million would be used 

primarily to support additional temporary staff years and information technology requirements associated with new and revised programs in the 2008 Farm Bill (the Food, Conservation, and Energy 

Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110–246). 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by proposed reductions to other accounts, as described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES

House Document 110–123 Page: 18 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $2,827,253,000 

Proposed Amendment: $10,000,000 

Revised Request: $2,837,253,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘$2,827,253,000’’ in both the first clause and the third proviso and 

substitute in both places $2,837,253,000; delete ‘‘$2,920,253,000’’ 

from the third proviso and substitute $2,930,253,000.) 

This amendment would provide an additional $10 million for the 

Operations, Research, and Facilities account. These funds would be 

used to improve hurricane intensity and track forecasting by expanding modeling efforts for the Hurricane Forecast System and 

the Global Forecast System, as well as by increasing aviation services to collect critical hurricane data. 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by proposed reductions to other accounts, as described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION, AND CONSTRUCTION

House Document 110–123 Page: 19 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $1,229,660,000 

Proposed Amendment: $3,000,000 

Revised Request: $1,232,660,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘$1,229,660,000’’ and substitute $1,232,660,000.) 

This amendment would provide an additional $3 million for the 

Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction account. The additional funds would be used for leasing additional supercomputing 

capacity necessary to improve hurricane intensity and track forecasting capabilities. 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by proposed reductions to other accounts, as described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

OFFICE OF FEDERAL STUDENT AID

STUDENT AID ADMINISTRATION

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 359 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $714,000,000 

Proposed Amendment: $50,000,000 

Revised Request: $764,000,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘$714,000,000’’ and substitute $764,000,000, and insert the following immediately before the concluding period:) 

Provided, That these funds are available for an independent audit 

of programs and activities authorized under Pub. L. No. 110–227 

This amendment would provide an additional $50 million for the 

Office of Federal Student Aid, Student Aid Administration account. 

This increase would ensure sufficient resources are available for 

the following purposes: 

• To implement the student loan purchase authority included in 

the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (Pub. 

L. No. 110–227); 

• To pay for increased servicing costs associated with any increase in Direct Loan volume in both the 2008–2009 and 2009– 

2010 academic years; 

• To implement the Lender of Last Resort program authorized 

under section 428(j) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 

§ 1078(j)); and 

• To conduct an independent audit of the student loan purchase 

authority authorized under Pub. L. No. 110–227. 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by proposed reductions to other accounts, as described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

USE OF RECEIPTS FROM MINERAL LEASING ACTIVITIES ON CERTAIN

NAVAL OIL SHALE RESERVES

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 603 

FY 2009 Pending Request: ¥$24,700,000 

Proposed Amendment: $11,704,000 

Revised Request: ¥$12,996,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘$24,700,000’’ and substitute $12,996,000.) 

This amendment would increase the amount of unobligated balances available to this account by $11.7 million. These balances 

were previously proposed for cancellation in the FY 2009 Budget. 

Pursuant to section 7439 of title 10, United States Code, a special account was established, in addition to other purposes, to fund 

the environmental investigation and restoration of a site within the 

Naval Oil Shale Reserve Number 3 in Colorado. The fund collects 

certain oil and gas leasing receipts and makes some of those funds 

available, without further appropriation. 

The 2009 Budget proposed to cancel $24.7 million in appropriated balances that were not expected to be needed to complete 

the required cleanup authorized by the Act. Cost estimates for the 

restoration have since increased, so this amendment would reduce 

the amount to be cancelled from the fund. 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by a proposed reduction within the Bureau of Land Management, 

as described in an accompanying amendment. Taken together, the 

budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION FUND

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 616 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $30,811,000 

Proposed Amendment: ¥$11,704,000 

Revised Request: $19,107,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, insert 

the following new paragraph immediately after the concluding period:) 

Of the unobligated balances available under this heading, 

$11,704,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would permanently cancel $11.7 million of unobligated balances in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund account for coal reclamation grants. 

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) 

Amendments of 2006 (Title II, Pub. L. No. 109–432, 120 Stat. 3006) 

significantly increased the amount of mandatory funds provided to 

States for coal reclamation, beginning in 2008 and increasing in 

2009 and future years. As a result, the FY 2009 Budget proposes 

to terminate the discretionary coal reclamation grant program, the 

purposes of which can be accomplished with the SMCRA mandatory funds. This amendment would reduce by about half the 

amount of carryover balances that would be available to States as 

they transition from discretionary to mandatory funding. 

The $11.7 million decrease would be used to fully offset the proposed increase within the Bureau of Land Management, as described in an accompanying amendment. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 199 

FY 2009 Pending Request: --- 

Proposed Amendment: Language 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

the appropriations language in section 710 in its entirety and substitute the following:) 

None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by 

this or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses 

of personnel to carry out the following: (a) an Environmental Quality Incentives Program authorized by 16 U.S.C. § 3839aa, et seq., as 

amended by subtitle F of Title II of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–46), in excess of $1,050,000,000. 

Funds exceeding this amount for fiscal year 2009 are hereby permanently cancelled; (b) an Agricultural Management Assistance Program authorized by section 524 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act 

(7 U.S.C. § 1524), as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246). $15,000,000 of the funds 

available for this program for fiscal year 2009 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would update appropriations language in the 

pending request to reflect enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill (the 

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110–246). 

This amendment clarifies the effect that this most recent Farm Bill 

has on the FY 2009 Budget for three programs: the Environmental 

Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Security Program, 

and Agricultural Management Assistance. 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Due to the 

$1,337 million provided in FY 2009 for EQIP in the 2008 Farm 

Bill, the proposed $1,050 million limitation and complementary 

cancellation above in subsection 710(a) would yield a total savings 

of $287 million in FY 2009. This is $67 million in additional savings compared to what was assumed for the same language in the 

Budget request. The 2002 Farm Bill (the Farm Security and Rural 

Investment Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107–171) that was current law 

at the time the Budget was released in February 2008 had appropriated only $1,270 million in FY 2009 for EQIP. 

Conservation Security Program (CSP). Section 710(b) of the pending request has been proposed for deletion. 

Because the 2008 Farm Bill does not provide any new funding 

for CSP in FY 2009, this cancellation would no longer yield the 

savings that was assumed in the pending request. 

Agricultural Management Assistance. A $10 million proposed 

cancellation of all FY 2009 funding available for this program was 

included in the pending request. The 2008 Farm Bill increased the 

funding for such assistance in FY 2009 to $15 million. In addition 

to the $10 million that was already assumed to be cancelled in the 

pending request, this amendment would permanently cancel the $5 

million increase in funding. 


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This amendment would increase net budget authority in the re- quest by $12 million. This requested increase in budget authority 

would be fully offset by proposed reductions to other accounts, as 

described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the 

budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

House Document 110–124 Page: 4 

FY 2009 Pending Request: --- 

Proposed Amendment: Language 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

the appropriations language in section 713 in its entirety and substitute the following:) 

Of the funding available under section 32 of the Act of August 24, 

1935, as amended by section 14222 of the Food, Conservation, and 

Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246), $100,000,000 are hereby 

permanently cancelled. In addition, section 14222(b)(2)(A)(i) of the 

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246) 

is amended by striking ‘‘$1,173,000,000’’ and inserting 

‘‘$1,073,000,000’’. 

This amendment would update appropriations language in the 

pending request to reflect enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill (the 

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110–246). 

This amendment clarifies the effect that this most recent Farm Bill 

has on the FY 2009 Budget for the Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply (Section 32) program. 

Section 14222(b)(2) of the 2008 Farm Bill sets a maximum 

amount for the Section 32 program for the first time. Since the 

pending request does not lower the maximum amount available for 

the program, it will not result in budget authority savings. This 

proposed budget amendment not only would permanently cancel 

$100 million in funding, but would also lower the maximum 

amount in section 14222(b)(2)(A)(i). In addition, this amendment 

would change the cancellation amount from the $293 million proposed in the Budget to $100 million. 

The pending request for the Section 32 program also appropriated $49 million in discretionary budget authority for administrative expenses from funds available under section 32, including 

$20 million for replacement of a system to support commodity purchases and $17 million for formulation and administration of marketing agreements and orders. OMB had assumed that a portion of 

this funding would be scored as a mandatory change in a discretionary appropriations bill. Because that appropriation will now be 

considered as part of the funding available under the maximum 

amount in section 14222(b)(2)(A)(i), this will result in $12 million 

less in discretionary appropriations in FY 2009. 

This amendment would decrease net budget authority in the request by $55 million. Taken together with other proposals in this 

transmittal, as described in the accompanying amendments, the 

budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

House Document 110–123 Page: 9 

Pending Request: --- 

Proposed Amendment: Language 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘(Pub. L. No. 110–234)’’ in the first sentence in section 718 and 

substitute (Pub. L. No. 110–246) and add new sections 719–730 

after section 718.) 

This request would amend the Public Law citation in section 718 

to correctly reflect the most recently enacted version of the Food, 

Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Pursuant to section 4 of 

Pub. L. No. 110–246, Pub. L. No. 110–234 was repealed effective 

on the date of enactment of that Act. 

It would also add the following new sections: 

Sec. 719. No funds shall be used to pay salaries and expenses of 

the Department of Agriculture to carry out or administer the program authorized by section 1240Q of the Food Security Act of 1985 

(16 U.S.C. § 3839bb et seq.), as amended by section 2605 of the 

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246). 

Of the funds made available for this program for fiscal year 2009, 

$23,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. This amendment would permanently cancel $23 million in FY 

2009 funding for the newly created Chesapeake Bay Watershed 

Program. The program provides funding for producers to implement erosion control, nutrient control, and habitat conservation 

measures in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Existing Federal conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives 

Program, which received slightly over $1.3 billion for FY 2009 in 

the recently enacted 2008 Farm Bill, already address these needs. 

This proposed reduction would eliminate the FY 2009 funding for 

the program. 

Sec. 720. No funds shall be used to pay salaries and expenses of 

the Department of Agriculture to carry out or administer the program authorized by section 1240R of the Food Security Act of 1985 

(16 U.S.C. § 3839bb et seq.), as amended by section 2606 of the 

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246). 

Of the funds made available for this program for fiscal year 2009, 

$50,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would permanently cancel $50 million in FY 

2009 funding for the newly created Voluntary Public Access and 

Habitat Incentives Program, which encourages private landowners 

to open their lands to hunting. This program duplicates existing 

State programs which provide the very same service. Over 20 

States already have such a program in place, and such a program 

is more appropriately administered and funded at the State and 

local level. This proposed reduction would eliminate funding for the 

program. 

Sec. 721. Of the funds made available for fiscal year 2009 by section 1241(a)(4) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 

§ 3841(a)(4)), as amended by section 2701(d) of subtitle H of title II 


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of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 

110–246), $24,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. This amendment would permanently cancel $24 million in FY 

2009 funding for the Farmland Protection Program. This program 

provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to 

keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. This proposed reduction would bring the program in FY 2009 to $97 million, which is its historical level of appropriated funds. 

Sec. 722. No funds shall be used to pay salaries and expenses of 

the Department of Agriculture to carry out or administer the program authorized by section 379E of subtitle D of the Consolidated 

Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. § 1981 et seq.), as 

amended by 6022 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 

2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246). Of the funds made available for this 

program for fiscal year 2009, $4,000,000 are hereby permanently 

cancelled. 

This amendment would permanently cancel $4 million of FY 

2009 funding made available for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program in the recently enacted 2008 Farm Bill. The 

Rural Business Service administers other programs that provide 

grant and loan assistance to small businesses, making this program redundant. This proposed reduction would eliminate the FY 

2009 funding for the program. 

Sec. 723. Of the funds made available for fiscal year 2009 by section 231(b)(7) of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (7 

U.S.C. § 1621 note: Pub. L. No. 106–244), as amended by section 

6202(b)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. 

L. No. 110–246), $12,318,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. This amendment would permanently cancel more than $12 million in FY 2009 funding for the Value-Added Agricultural Market 

Development Program which provides grants to producers to create 

value added products. The program would have almost $3 million 

in funding available in FY 2009. Typically, businesses helped by 

these sorts of development programs record a three year survival 

rate at a national average of 60 percent. This poorly performing 

program, however, does not come close to that national average, 

with a three year survival rate of only 35 percent. 

Sec. 724. Of the funds made available for fiscal year 2009 by section 1672B(f) of the Food, Agricultural, Conservation, and Trade 

Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. § 5925b), as amended by section 7206(a)(2) of 

the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110– 

246), $8,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would permanently cancel $8 million in FY 

2009 funding for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension 

Initiative. The amendment would leave $10 million for this program, more than three times the $3 million available for Organic 

Research and Extension in FY 2008 under the FY 2002 Farm Bill 

(the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 

107–171). 

Sec. 725. Of the funds made available for fiscal year 2009 by section 508 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 

§ 6578), as amended by section 8205(c) of the Food, Conservation. 

and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246), $4,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 


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This amendment would permanently cancel $4 million of the 

nearly $10 million of FY 2009 funding made available for the 

Healthy Forests Reserve program in the recently enacted 2008 

Farm Bill. This program has never received more than $3 million 

in annual appropriations, and has significant outstanding balances. 

Sec. 726. Of the funds made available for fiscal year 2009 by section 9004 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 

(7 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.), as amended by section 9001 of the Food, 

Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246), 

$10,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would permanently cancel $10 million of FY 

2009 funding for the newly created Repowering Assistance Program. The program, which provides payments to biorefineries to replace fossil fuel used to produce heat or power to operate existing 

biorefineries with renewable biomass energy sources. This program 

is similar in purpose to other Rural Development programs, making it redundant. This proposed reduction would leave $25 million 

for the program in FY 2009. 

Sec. 727. Of the funds made available for fiscal year 2009 by section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 

(7 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.), as amended by section 9001 of the Food, 

Conservation. and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246), 

$6.000.000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would permanently cancel $6 million in FY 

2009 funding for the Rural Energy for America Program, which 

was once part of the renewable energy/energy efficiency grant program. The program focuses on helping rural businesses obtain energy efficiencies. Funding for this program in the recently enacted 

2008 Farm Bill, is $5 million more than the FY 2009 Budget request. This proposed reduction would leave $49 million for FY 

2009, approximately double the typical loan and grant volume for 

this program. The agency is not expected to obligate the full level 

of funds in FY 2009. 

Sec. 728. Of the funds made available for fiscal year 2009 by section 101(j) of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Pub. 

L. No. 108–465). as amended by section 10109(c)(4) of the Food, 

Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246), 

$34,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would permanently cancel $34 million of FY 

2009 funding made available for the Specialty Crop Block Grant 

Program in the recently enacted 2008 Farm Bill (the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110–246). The block 

grant program does not effectively target assistance for specialty 

crops and potentially overlaps with existing Sec. 32 and Food and 

Nutrition Service programs. This proposed reduction would leave 

$15 million for the program in FY 2009. 

Sec. 729. No funds shall be used to pay salaries and expenses of 

the Department of Agriculture to carry out or administer the program authorized by section 420(e)(1) of the Plant Protection Act (7 

U.S.C. § 7711 et seq.), as amended by section 10201(a) of the Food, 

Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246). Of the 

funds made available for fiscal year 2009, $12,000,000 are hereby 

permanently cancelled. 


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This amendment would permanently cancel $12 million in FY 

2009 funding for Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster 

Prevention. Funding for pest detection and surveillance is and 

should continue to be made available through the discretionary appropriation to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

under current budget ceilings. This proposed reduction would eliminate the FY 2009 funding for the program. 

Sec. 730. No funds shall be used to pay salaries and expenses of 

the Department of Agriculture to carry out or administer the program authorized by section 10202(e) of the Food, Conservation, and 

Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. 110–246). Of the funds made available for fiscal year 2009, $5,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would permanently cancel $5 million of FY 

2009 funding for the National Clean Plant Network. Funding for 

this program is more appropriately made available through the discretionary appropriations to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service under current budget ceilings. This proposed reduction 

would eliminate the FY 2009 funding for the program. The total decreases of more than $192 million provided by this 

amendment would partially offset the proposed increases described 

in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

House Document 110–123 Page: 22 

FY 2009 Pending Request: --- 

Proposed Amendment: Language 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘(Pub. L. No. 110–234)’’ in section 107 and substitute (Pub. L. No. 

110–246).) 

This request would amend the Public Law citation to correctly 

reflect the most recently enacted version of the Food, Conservation, 

and Energy Act of 2008. Pursuant to section 4 of Pub. L. No. 110– 

246, Pub. L. No. 110–234 was repealed effective on the date of enactment of that Act. 


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

WATER AND RELATED RESOURCES

House Document 110–123 Page: 25 

FY 2009 Pending Request: --- 

Proposed Amendment: Language 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘(Pub. L. No. 110–234)’’ in the last proviso and substitute (Pub. L. 

No. 110–246).) 

This request would amend the Public Law citation to correctly 

reflect the most recently enacted version of the Food, Conservation, 

and Energy Act of 2008. Pursuant to section 4 of Pub. L. No. 110– 

246, Pub. L. No. 110–234 was repealed effective on the date of enactment of that Act. 


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22 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES

UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Pages: 480–481 

FY 2009 Pending Request: --- 

Proposed Amendment: Language 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, insert 

the following new paragraph before the opening parenthesis of the 

bill citation:) 

Of the unobligated funds collected pursuant to section 286(v) of 

the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1356(v)), 

$34,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would reduce the pending request for the U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) account by permanently cancelling $34 million in funding. This funding will become 

available in this account at the beginning of FY 2009 as a result 

of a $102 million temporary rescission in the FY 2008 appropriation in the Department of Labor’s Employment Standards Administration (ESA) Salaries and Expenses account. 

The cancellation that was contained in the budget amendment 

that was transmitted to the Congress on June 9, 2008 (H. Doc. 

110–123) assumed that all of the $102 million rescission of funds 

would become available for obligation by ESA in FY 2009. In fact, 

only one third ($34 million) of these funds will become available to 

that account. In accordance with the availability of funds provided 

by section 286(v) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

§ 1356(v)), $68 million ($34 million each) will also become available 

to Diplomatic and Consular Programs in the Department of State 

and to USCIS. 

This request would cancel all of the funding that is newly available to the Department of Homeland Security in FY 2009 as a result of the original temporary rescission. The request would have 

no net effect on the balances available to USCIS from Fraud Prevention and Detection fees prior to the addition of the $34 million 

in temporarily rescinded balances. The $34 million decrease would 

partially offset the proposed increases described in the budget 

amendment transmitted to the Congress on June 9, 2008. Taken 

together with other proposals in that transmittal, as well as proposals in this transmittal that cancel the $34 million from Diplomatic and Consular Programs in the Department of State and the 

revised cancellation of $12 million from the ESA Salaries and Expenses account in the Department of Labor, the budget authority 

requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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23 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

House Document 110–123 Page: 26 

FY 2009 Pending Request: --- 

Proposed Amendment: Language 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘$110,000,000’’ from the second paragraph and substitute 

$42,000,000.) 

This amendment would reduce the pending $110 million cancellation from the Employment Standards Administration (ESA), 

Salaries and Expenses account by $68 million. 

The FY 2008 appropriation temporarily rescinded $102 million 

from this account. The cancellation that was contained in the budget amendment that was transmitted to the Congress on June 9, 

2008 (H. Doc. 110–123) assumed that all of these funds would become available for obligation by ESA in FY 2009. In fact, only one 

third ($34 million) of these funds will become available to this account. In accordance with the availability of funds provided by section 286(v) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

§ 1356(v)), $68 million ($34 million each) will also become available 

to Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of 

Homeland Security and Diplomatic and Consular Programs in the 

Department of State. 

This request would cancel $12 million of the $34 million in funding that will become available in the Department of Labor in FY 

2009. The $12 million decrease would partially offset the proposed 

increases described in the budget amendment transmitted to the 

Congress on June 9, 2008. Taken together with other amendments 

in that transmittal, as well as amendments in this transmittal that 

cancel the $34 million each from Citizenship and Immigration 

Services in the Department of Homeland Security and Diplomatic 

and Consular Programs in the Department of State, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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24 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

ADMINISTRATION OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR PROGRAMS

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 769 

FY 2009 Pending Request: --- 

Proposed Amendment: Language 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, insert 

the following new paragraph before the opening parenthesis of the 

bill citation:) 

Of the unobligated funds collected pursuant to section 286(v) of 

the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1356(v)), 

$34,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

This amendment would reduce the pending request for the Diplomatic and Consular Programs (D&CP) account by cancelling $34 

million in funding. This funding will become available in this account at the beginning of FY 2009 as a result of a $102 million 

temporary rescission in the FY 2008 appropriation in the Department of Labor’s Employment Standards Administration (ESA) Salaries and Expenses account. 

The cancellation that was contained in the budget amendment 

that was transmitted to the Congress on June 9, 2008 (H. Doc. 

110–123) assumed that all of the $102 million rescission of funds 

would become available for obligation by ESA in FY 2009. In fact, 

only one third ($34 million) of these funds will become available to 

that account. In accordance with the availability of funds provided 

by section 286(v) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

§ 1356(v)), $68 million ($34 million each) will also become available 

to Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of 

Homeland Security and to D&CP. 

This request would cancel all of the funding that is newly available to the Department of State in FY 2009 as a result of the original temporary rescission. The request would have no net effect on 

the balances available to D&CP from Fraud Prevention and Detection fees prior to the addition of the $34 million in temporarily rescinded balances. The $34 million decrease would partially offset 

the proposed increases described in the budget amendment transmitted to the Congress on June 9, 2008. Taken together with other 

amendments in that transmittal, as well as amendments in this 

transmittal that cancel the $34 million from Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security and the 

revised cancellation of $12 million from the ESA Salaries and Expenses account in the Department of Labor, the budget authority 

requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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25 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 466 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $1,395,831,000 

Proposed Amendment: $905,000,000 

Revised Request: $2,300,831,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, (1) delete 

‘‘$810,740,000’’ in the first paragraph and substitute 

$1,352,740,000; (2) delete ‘‘and of which $275,000,000’’ in the first 

paragraph and substitute of which $748,000,000; (3) delete 

‘‘$585,091,000, of which $507,000,000’’ from the second paragraph 

and substitute $948,091,000, of which $870,000,000; and (4) insert 

the following new language immediately before the period at the 

end of the first paragraph:) 

, and of which $50,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 

2010, to support the delivery of medical countermeasures: Provided, 

That of the amount made available herein for the delivery of medical countermeasures, up to $20,000,000 may be transferred to the 

U.S. Postal Service to support the delivery of medical countermeasures 

This amendment would provide an additional $905 million for 

the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. This proposed funding would be used to enhance the Nation’s preparedness 

against a bioterrorist event through the advanced development of 

priority medical countermeasures and activities that support the 

distribution and dispensing of medical countermeasures. This funding would also improve the Nation’s preparedness in the event of 

an influenza pandemic. 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by proposed reductions to other accounts, as described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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26 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

NATIONAL PROTECTION AND PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE

OFFICE OF HEALTH AFFAIRS

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 513 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $161,339,000 

Proposed Amendment: $27,000,000 

Revised Request: $188,339,000 

(In the appropriations language under the heading, delete 

‘‘$161,339,000’’ and substitute $188,339,000; delete ‘‘$132,129,000’’ 

and substitute $159,129,000.) 

This amendment would provide an additional $27 million for the 

Office of Health Affairs. This proposed funding would strengthen 

the Nation’s preparedness against a bioterrorist event through the 

enhancement of the BioWatch environmental monitoring system. 

The funds would be used to purchase and deploy 150 automated 

BioWatch sensors to increase coverage in BioWatch cities, lower detection times down to 4 to 6 hours, and speed the delivery of medical countermeasures. 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by a proposed reduction within the Department of Homeland Security, as described in an accompanying amendment. Taken together, 

the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not 

be affected. 


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27 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 1039 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $763,527,000 

Proposed Amendment: $10,600,000 

Revised Request: $774,127,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘$763,527,000’’ and substitute $774,127,000.) 

This amendment would provide an additional $10.6 million for 

the Science and Technology account. This funding would be used 

to address gaps in responding to and recovering from an anthrax 

attack. Critical gaps addressed by this funding include: 

Validated Sampling Assays and Methodologies ($7.2 million). To 

date, EPA has identified existing methods to collect, prepare, and 

analyze samples containing anthrax. However, the existing methods are not specifically intended for environmental samples and 

need to be tested to determine their overall effectiveness and efficiency. Research is required to develop, verify, and validate sample 

collection, preparation, and analytical methods to aid in the detection of anthrax in environmental samples. 

Washing/Cleaning Methods for Outdoor Areas/Matrices ($2.5 

million). Further research needs to be conducted to field-test 

Standard Operating Procedures for the use of simple and flexible 

decontamination methods of anthrax-contaminated outdoor areas, 

using available equipment and supplies and with minimal environmental or materials damage, i.e., bench-scale studies need to be 

done to assess the efficacy of promising decontamination methods 

for outdoor surface types. 

Risk Assessment Methodologies for Risk Characterization and Exposure Assessment ($0.9 million). The capability of tools to estimate 

exposure levels following a wide area release remains a continuing 

challenge. Additional requested funding will assist EPA in not only 

developing methods to combine various data types into a scientifically-defensible risk characterization for human exposure to anthrax, but also in modifying existing exposure models, for chemically-contaminated environments, to estimate inhalation, dermal, 

and oral exposures to anthrax spores. 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by proposed reductions to other accounts, as described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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28 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE SUPERFUND

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Page: 1049 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $1,264,233,000 

Proposed Amendment: $24,165,000 

Revised Request: $1,288,398,000 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

‘‘$1,264,233,000’’ in both places where it occurs and substitute in 

both places $1,288,398,000.) 

This amendment would provide an additional $24.2 million for 

the Hazardous Substance Superfund account in the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA). This funding would be used to address 

gaps in decontamination equipment and laboratory capacity/capability for possible anthrax incidents in urban indoor and outdoor 

environments. Critical gaps addressed via this funding include: 

InSitu Decon Methodologies ($20.8 million). EPA and private 

vendors currently have technologies applicable for small-scale decontamination of biological agents, i.e., the Senate Office Building. 

However, a critical gap exists in the ability to scale-up technologies 

and methodologies to address larger areas of contamination and 

there is little incentive for private vendors to develop such capacity. 

The requested increase would provide additional technology capacity to decontaminate larger areas should such an event occur. 

Laboratory Capacity/Capability ($3.4 million). In the event of a 

wide-area anthrax attack, relying on a finite set of labs with competing priorities, i.e., a need to analyze environmental, clinical, and 

forensic samples simultaneously, presents a significant gap. Of the 

requested $3.4 million, $2.6 million would begin to address the current laboratory capacity gap, associated with screening sample 

analysis, through the development of a Memorandum of Understanding and Inter-agency Agreement with the Department of Agriculture to provide infrastructure support and access screening samples from more than a dozen State veterinary diagnostic laboratories. The remaining $0.8 million would be used to support validated sampling assays and methodologies, such as evaluation and 

development of guidance for swab sampling methods on non-porous 

surfaces and for vacuum sampling methods from porous surfaces. 

Furthermore, the Payment to the Hazardous Substance Superfund account would be adjusted, consistent with the proposed budget amendment, to increase homeland security funding for bioterrorism activities in the Hazardous Substance Superfund account. 

The requested increase in budget authority would be fully offset 

by proposed reductions to other accounts, as described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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29 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

House Document 110–123 Page: 23 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $939,765,000 

Proposed Amendment: ¥$939,765,000 

Revised Request: --- 

(In the appropriations language under the above heading, delete 

the appropriations language in its entirety and substitute the following:) 

Notwithstanding sections 2002 and 2003 of the Social Security 

Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 1397a and 1397b), no State shall be entitled to 

payment, no funds shall be appropriated, and no allotment shall be 

made under such sections for fiscal year 2009: Provided, That notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of section 404(d)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 604(d)(2)), the applicable percent specified 

under such subparagraph for a State to carry out State programs 

pursuant to title XX of such Act shall be 10 percent. 

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is an appropriated entitlement, which was funded at $1,700 million in FY 2008. The FY 

2009 Budget requested $1,200 million for SSBG through a one-year 

reduction of $500 million in appropriations language. Additionally, 

the Budget included a permanent elimination of authorized funding 

levels in the out years beyond FY 2009. A budget amendment that 

was transmitted to the Congress on June 9, 2008 (H. Doc. 110–123) 

reduced the FY 2009 request to approximately $940 million in 

order to offset other requested increases. 

This amendment further adjusts the request by neither appropriating nor allocating to States any FY 2009 funds for SSBG, reducing the authorized funding level for the Social Services Block 

Grant by an additional $940 million. At the same time, the amendment preserves the ability of the States to transfer up to 10 percent 

of funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to SSBG. The program’s minimal requirements maximize 

State flexibility but, at the same time, do not ensure that funded 

activities are effective. This is because SSBG is a funding stream 

rather than a program with measurable performance objectives. 

The requested $940 million reduction in budget authority would 

partially offset the proposed increases described in the accompanying amendments. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 


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30 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS

FY 2009 Budget Appendix Pages: 514–515 

FY 2009 Pending Request: $1,900,000,000 

Proposed Amendment: ¥$27,000,000 

Revised Request: $1,873,000,000 

(In the appropriations language under the heading, delete 

‘‘$1,900,000,000’’ and substitute $1,873,000,000; delete 

‘‘$200,000,000’’ in paragraph (1) and substitute $173,000,000.) 

This amendment would reduce the Homeland Security Grant 

Program within the State and Local Programs account by $27 million. The 2009 Budget proposes to consolidate State and local 

grants and to distribute grants to programs on the basis of risk. 

Since 2001, the Department has administered over $23 billion, primarily as grants, to support State and local preparedness. Of this 

amount, approximately $7.4 billion in grant awards remain 

unspent. Moreover, states and localities are spending these funds 

slower than they had been in prior years. This proposal would support State and local preparedness by redirecting a small percentage 

of total grant resources to BioWatch. 

The requested $27 million reduction in budget authority would 

fully offset a proposed increase within the Department, as described in an accompanying amendment. Taken together, the budget authority requested in the FY 2009 Budget would not be affected. 

Æ 


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