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[House Document 109-67]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                     

109th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 109-67

 
                 REQUESTS FOR FY 2005 BUDGET AMENDMENTS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

REQUESTS FOR FY 2005 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AGRICULTURE, DEFENSE, HOMELAND SECURITY, THE 
  INTERIOR, STATE, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, AS WELL AS FOR INTERNATIONAL 
                          ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

  November 1, 2005.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, November 1, 2005.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Today, I outlined a strategy to address 
the threat of avian and pandemic influenza. This strategy is 
designed to meet three critical goals: to detect and contain 
outbreaks before they spread across the world, to protect the 
American people by stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs and 
accelerating the development of new vaccine technologies, and 
to ensure that Federal, State, and local communities are 
prepared for potential domestic outbreaks.
    To provide the necessary resources to immediately begin the 
implementation of this strategy, I ask the Congress to consider 
the enclosed requests, totaling $7.1 billion, for the 
Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Defense, 
Homeland Security, the Interior, State, and Veterans Affairs, 
as well as for International Assistance Programs.
    I hereby designate the proposals in the amount requested 
herein as emergency requirements, and I urge the Congress to 
act expeditiously on this request to ensure the country is 
prepared for this growing danger.
    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. 15, 109th Cong., 1st Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                  Washington, DC, November 1, 2005.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration are requests, totaling 
$7.1 billion, for the Departments of Health and Human Services, 
Agriculture, Defense, Homeland Security, the Interior, State, 
and Veterans Affairs, as well as for International Assistance 
programs. These funds are being requested in order to implement 
the three goals in your strategy to address the growing danger 
of avian and pandemic influenza.
    This request includes $251 million to detect and contain 
outbreaks before they spread around the world, $6.242 billion 
to stockpile vaccines and antiviral medications and accelerate 
the development of new vaccine technologies, and $644 million 
to ensure the Federal government, states and local communities 
are prepared for a pandemic outbreak that could quickly reach 
the United States.
    Separately, in order to strengthen our domestic production 
capacity in times of potential outbreaks, the Department of 
Health and Human Services will be transmitting proposed 
legislation to provide vaccine manufacturers significant 
liability protection.
    As described below and in more detail in the enclosures, 
the requests include the following:
Department of Health and Human Services
     $6.7 billion is requested to support pandemic 
influenza preparedness and response activities. The majority of 
this request is for the stockpiling of countermeasures and the 
development of the capacity to produce pandemic influenza 
vaccine within six months for the entire U.S. population. The 
request also includes resources for research and development of 
more effective countermeasures and vaccine technologies, and 
improved surveillance and preparedness efforts both 
domestically and internationally.
Department of Agriculture
     $91.4 million is requested for activities such as 
animal health surveillance and monitoring; research and 
production of poultry vaccine; planning activities; and 
international biosecurity.
Department of Defense
     $130.0 million is requested for the purchase of 
pandemic vaccine currently in production, and for improved 
worldwide avian influenza surveillance programs, equipment, 
essential information management systems, and laboratory 
diagnostic equipment. The request also includes funding to 
provide assistance to military partner nations in procuring 
protective equipment, laboratory diagnostic equipment, 
surveillance, and communication equipment.
Department of Homeland Security
     $47.3 million is requested for pandemic scenario 
modeling, personal protective equipment, private sector 
pandemic assistance planning, and exercises and training for 
Department of Homeland Security frontline staff.
Department of Interior
     $11.6 million is requested for improved domestic 
surveillance of the health of wild birds at high risk of 
infection and testing of wild birds harvested by hunters for 
the H5N1 virus.
Department of State
     $38.5 million is requested for international 
response coordination, including foreign governments and non-
governmental organizations, diplomatic outreach, exchanges of 
U.S. and foreign medical personnel, and for avian and pandemic 
influenza health support and protection of U.S. Government 
employees and families at U.S. missions overseas. Of the total 
requested for the Department of State, $20 million would fund 
the potential evacuation of U.S. Government personnel and 
dependents from overseas missions.
Department of Veterans Affairs
     $27.0 million is requested for enhanced human 
health surveillance reporting from the VA health system and 
real-time data transfer to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention. The request also supports department-wide 
preparedness and response planning.
International Assistance Programs
     $131.5 million is requested for pre-positioned 
supplies and equipment required to prevent and control the 
spread of the avian influenza virus; a communications campaign 
to increase awareness of risk and appropriate behaviors to 
reduce transmission among humans and animals; improved 
surveillance and response; and accelerated international 
planning and preparedness.
Recommendation
    All of the requests in this transmittal fulfill known and 
urgent requirements that cannot reasonably be met under current 
funding levels. I recommend that you designate the proposals 
contained in this transmittal as emergency requirements.
    I have reviewed these proposals and am satisfied that they 
are necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the heads of the 
affected Departments and agencies in recommending that you 
transmit the proposals to the Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                          Joshua B. Bolten,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosures.
                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                        Departmental Management

            PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND

    For an additional amount for ``Public Health and Social 
Services Emergency Fund'' to prepare for and respond to an 
influenza pandemic, including the development and purchase of 
vaccines, antivirals, and necessary medical supplies, and for 
planning activities, $6,460,000,000, to remain available until 
expended, of which $2,300,000,000 shall become available on 
October 1, 2006; and $1,160,000,000 shall become available on 
October 1, 2007: Provided, That products purchased with these 
funds may, at the discretion of the Secretary, be deposited in 
the Strategic National Stockpile: Provided further, That 
notwithstanding section 496(b) of the Public Health Service 
Act, funds may be used for the construction or renovation of 
privately owned facilities for the production of pandemic 
influenza vaccines, where the Secretary finds such a contract 
necessary to secure sufficient supplies of such vaccines: 
Provided further, That the Secretary may negotiate a contract 
with a vendor under which a State may place an order with the 
vendor for antivirals; may reimburse a State for a portion of 
the price paid by the State pursuant to such an order; and may 
use amounts made available herein for such reimbursement: 
Provided further, That funds appropriated herein may be 
transferred to other appropriation accounts of the Department 
of Health and Human Services, as determined by the Secretary to 
be appropriate, to be used for the purposes specified in this 
sentence: Provided further, That the Congress designates the 
amounts provided herein as an emergency requirement for this 
specific purpose.
    For an additional amount for ``Public Health and Social 
Services Emergency Fund'' for activities related to pandemic 
influenza, including international activities and activities in 
foreign countries, related to preparedness planning, enhancing 
the pandemic influenza regulatory science base, accelerating 
pandemic influenza disease surveillance, developing registries 
to monitor influenza vaccine distribution and use, and 
supporting pandemic influenza research, clinical trials and 
clinical trials infrastructure, $200,000,000: Provided, That 
funds appropriated herein may be transferred to other 
appropriation accounts of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, as determined by the Secretary to be appropriate, to 
be used for the purposes specified in this sentence: Provided 
further, That the Congress designates the amounts provided 
herein as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request includes a total of $6.66 billion to support a 
comprehensive plan to expand the Nation's capacity to increase 
the availability of vaccine, antivirals, and other necessary 
countermeasures to protect against an influenza pandemic. The 
centerpiece of the Department of Health and Human Services 
proposal is to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity to allow 
for the production of pandemic influenza vaccine for the entire 
Nation within a six-month period and to increase the national 
supply of antivirals to cover 25 percent of the U.S. 
population. Some funding could be used to support the 
construction or renovation of facilities to improve 
manufacturing capacity. The request also supports research on 
promising new vaccine technologies and antivirals, methods to 
deliver vaccine more effectively and efficiently, and improved 
surveillance to rapidly identify any potential outbreaks of 
disease in the United States and abroad. Funding is also 
requested to support communications to the public and to assist 
States in the development of preparedness plans. Of the total 
amount requested, $3.2 billion would be available for 
obligation in FY 2006, $2.3 billion in FY 2007, and $1.2 
billion in FY 2008.
                                ------                                

                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

               Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'' 
related to the detection of and response to highly pathogenic 
avian influenza, including research and development, 
$91,350,000, of which not to exceed $7,000,000 may be 
transferred to ``Salaries and Expenses,'' Agricultural Research 
Service: Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts 
provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific 
purpose.
    This request would provide funding for both domestic and 
international programs related to the threat of an avian 
influenza pandemic. Within the total amount requested, $73 
million is included for domestic activities, such as the survey 
and diagnosis of live bird markets, wildlife and bird flyways, 
smuggling and waterfowl; planning and preparedness training and 
modeling of scenarios; and the production of 40 million doses 
of animal vaccine. An additional $7 million is requested for 
research and development.
    The balance of the funding requested for this account would 
be for international program activities to provide technical 
assistance to other nations in the areas such as the 
surveillance of birds and swine; biosecurity and industry 
practices; poultry destruction, disposal, vaccination; and 
outbreak control and eradication.
    In total, this funding would provide assistance to other 
countries to more quickly detect and respond to an outbreak in 
bird population, as well as enable the United States to more 
quickly detect and eradicate an outbreak in domestic and wild 
birds.
                                ------                                

                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

                       Operations and Maintenance

                         DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM

    For an additional amount for ``Defense Health Program'' for 
necessary expenses related to vaccine purchases, storage, 
expanded avian influenza surveillance programs, equipment, 
essential information management systems, and laboratory 
diagnostic equipment, $120,000,000: Provided, That the Congress 
designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide the Department of Defense with 
the ability to purchase avian influenza vaccines, increase 
worldwide surveillance of the virus, and upgrade surveillance, 
laboratory, and information management equipment.
                                ------                                

                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

                       Operations and Maintenance

                OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE

    For an additional amount for ``Operations and Maintenance, 
Defense-Wide'' for surveillance, communication equipment, and 
assistance to military partner nations in procuring protective 
equipment, $10,000,000: Provided, That the Congress designates 
the amounts provided herein as an emergency requirement for 
this specific purpose.
    This request would provide the Department of Defense (DOD) 
with the ability to upgrade surveillance and laboratory 
capabilities. This funding would also enable DOD to assist 
military partner nations in procuring protective equipment, 
laboratory diagnostic equipment, portable field assay testing 
equipment surveillance, and essential communication equipment.
                                ------                                

                    DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

                              Preparedness

                     MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

    For an additional amount for ``Management and 
Administration'' for training of Department of Homeland 
Security personnel in emergency response procedures and 
protocols associated with a potential outbreak of highly 
pathogenic influenza; for preparedness planning within the 
Department and in conjunction with the private sector related 
to a potential outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza; for the 
protection of Department personnel and the public during a 
potential outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza; for pandemic 
diseases outbreak modeling; and for isolation systems and 
equipment, $47,283,000: Provided, That funds appropriated 
herein may be transferred to other appropriation accounts of 
the Department of Homeland Security, as determined by the 
Secretary to be appropriate, to be used for the purposes 
specified in this sentence: Provided further, That the Congress 
designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) with resources to plan and train in emergency 
response procedures and protocols related to the potential 
widespread outbreak of a highly pathogenic pandemic or avian 
influenza. This funding would also support modeling 
capabilities for understanding the likely patterns of pathogen 
dispersion and outbreak and provide equipment to isolate 
individuals in the event of a pandemic event.

                                ------                                

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

                    United States Geological Survey

                 SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH

    For an additional amount for ``Surveys, Investigations, and 
Research'' for the detection of highly pathogenic avian 
influenza in wild birds, including the investigation of 
morbidity and mortality events, targeted surveillance in live 
wild birds, and targeted surveillance in hunter-taken birds, 
$3,670,000: Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts 
provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific 
purpose.
    This request would enable the United States Geological 
Survey (USGS), working in coordination with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and other Federal 
agencies, to begin an interagency effort to detect avian 
influenza in wild birds, with an initial focus on early 
detection activities in Alaska and coastal areas with a high 
potential for contact between Asian and North American birds.
    This proposal would also provide USGS with the ability to 
increase personnel, upgrade equipment, and fund additional 
field time and lab costs. USGS would assist in preparing 
standard guidelines for routine and systematic monitoring of 
wild birds, develop a uniform protocol for reporting mortality 
events, and develop instructions for the safe handling and 
shipping of specimens to diagnostic facilities, as well as 
provide training to field personnel in these areas. This 
funding would also allow USGS to process samples, report on 
findings back to the field, and maintain a system for recording 
mortality events.

                                ------                                

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

                United States Fish and Wildlife Service

                          RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

    For an additional amount for ``Resource Management'' for 
the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild 
birds, including the investigation of morbidity and mortality 
events, targeted surveillance in live wild birds, and targeted 
surveillance in hunter-taken birds, $7,398,000: Provided, That 
the Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an 
emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide funding to the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS) to increase its field monitoring for 
avian influenza, allowing FWS to collect an estimated 6,000 
samples in Alaska, and 5,000 samples in the Pacific and the 
North American Pacific and Central flyways.
    The FWS, in coordination with State and tribal natural 
resource agencies, would also maintain hunter check stations 
for waterfowl to collect additional avian influenza 
information. The check stations would be operated in the lower 
48 States during hunting season in areas where migratory bird 
populations at risk for the disease stage during migration or 
over winter.
                                ------                                

                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

                         National Park Service

                 OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

    For an additional amount for ``Operation of the National 
Park System'' for the detection of highly pathogenic avian 
influenza in wild birds, including the investigation of 
morbidity and mortality events, $525,000: Provided, That the 
Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    As part of an interagency effort to detect avian influenza 
in wild birds, this request would enable the National Park 
Service to coordinate surveillance and monitoring of wild birds 
within national parks in Alaska and other areas at risk.
                                ------                                

                          DEPARTMENT OF STATE

                   Administration of Foreign Affairs

                   DIPLOMATIC AND COUNSULAR PROGRAMS

    For an additional amount for ``Diplomatic and Consular 
Programs'' to support avian influenza country coordination, 
development of an avian influenza response plan, diplomatic 
outreach and health support of U.S. Embassy personnel stationed 
abroad, $17,000,000, to remain available until expended: 
Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts provided 
herein as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide $12.0 million for an avian 
influenza country coordination, including foreign governments 
and non-governmental organizations, and enhanced diplomatic 
outreach for the International Partnership. This funding would 
also provide avian and pandemic influenza health support and 
protection of U.S. Government employees and families to ensure 
continuity of operations at U.S. missions overseas. In 
addition, $5.0 million would be provided for public diplomacy, 
training, and other international outreach activities related 
to avian and pandemic influenza.
                                ------                                

                          DEPARTMENT OF STATE

                   Administration of Foreign Affairs

           EMERGENCIES IN THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE

    For an additional amount for ``Emergencies in the 
Diplomatic and Consular Service'' for emergency evacuation 
support of U.S. Government personnel and dependents in the 
affected region, $20,000,000, to remain available until 
expended: Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts 
provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific 
purpose.
    This request would provide $20.0 million for the potential 
evacuation of U.S. Government personnel and dependents from 
U.S. missions overseas due to the impact of avian and pandemic 
influenza, since this evacuation would be on a larger scale 
than evacuations usually handled by the State Department.
                                ------                                

                          DEPARTMENT OF STATE

                   Administration of Foreign Affairs

                EDUCATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

    For an additional amount for ``Educational and Cultural 
Exchange Programs'' for professional and administrative support 
related to the International Visitors Program $1,500,000, to 
remain available until expended: Provided, That the Congress 
designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide $1.5 million for the 
International Visitors Program to provide 100 additional 
professional exchanges of doctors, health practitioners, and 
nongovernmental organizations working on health issues to 
support the international partnership for the response to avian 
and pandemic influenza. The exchange programs will include both 
U.S. doctors to be sent abroad to work on avian flu 
eradication, flu vaccination, and treatment, as well as foreign 
doctors to be brought to the U.S. for pandemic response 
training and conferences.
                                ------                                

                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

                            Medical Programs

                            MEDICAL SERVICES

    For an additional amount for ``Medical Services'' for 
enhanced avian influenza surveillance programs, planning 
functions and preparations for the pandemic and to establish 
real-time surveillance data exchange with the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, $27,000,000: Provided, That the 
Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide the Veterans Affairs (VA) with 
the ability to increase its avian influenza surveillance 
programs and establish real-time surveillance data links with 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This funding 
would also assist with planning and VA-wide preparations and 
responses to avian influenza involving other community and 
Federal partners.
                                ------                                

                   INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

                  Agency for International Development

                       CHILD SURVIVAL AND HEALTH

    For an additional amount for ``Child Survival and Health'' 
for activities related to surveillance, planning, preparedness, 
and response to the avian influenza virus without regard to 
section 10 of Public Law 91-672 and section 15 of the State 
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, $75,200,000: 
Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts provided 
herein as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide $75.2 million in child survival 
and health funds for the following activities: a communications 
campaign to increase awareness of risks and appropriate 
behaviors to reduce transmission among humans and animals; 
surveillance and diagnosis to provide notification of an 
outbreak within one week and confirmation within two weeks; 
response capacity to mount a full-scale containment response 
within two weeks of an animal or human outbreak; and planning 
and preparedness so that countries have plans for effective 
response to an animal outbreak and/or an extended outbreak 
among humans.
                                ------                                

                   INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

                  Agency for International Development

              INTERNATIONAL DISASTER AND FAMINE ASSISTANCE

    For an additional amount for ``International Disaster and 
Famine Assistance'' for the pre-positioning and deployment of 
essential supplies and equipment for preparedness and response 
to the avian influenza virus without regard to section 10 of 
Public Law 91-672 and section 15 of the State Department Basic 
Authorities Act of 1956, $56,330,000: Provided, That the 
Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide $54 million in international 
disaster and famine assistance funds to pre-position supplies 
and equipment, such as protective equipment and antiviral 
medications, which would be required to prevent and control the 
spread of the avian influenza virus. These stockpiles, intended 
for use abroad for the containment of localized animal or human 
outbreaks, would be pre-positioned within one year of enactment 
of the funds. In addition, $2 million would be available for 
transfer to the Assistance for the Independent States of the 
Former Soviet Union account in order to deliver and distribute 
donated medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies to central 
and eastern Russia.

                                  
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