U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1

79–012 2000

106th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 106–289

REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FUNDING

COMMUNICATION

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

A FUNDING REQUEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

FOREST SERVICE, WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

SEPTEMBER 6, 2000.—Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and

ordered to be printed

(1)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, DC, August 31, 2000.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SIR: In accordance with provisions of P.L. 106–113, the Omnibus

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000, I hereby request the following:

Department of Agriculture

• Forest Service, Wildland Fire Management: $90,000,000.

These funds will be used to address urgent needs arising from

the consequences of the severe and numerous fires on Federal public lands throughout the western United States.

I hereby designate the above request as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and

Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed letter from

the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I concur

with his comments and observations.

Sincerely,

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

Enclosure.

(3)

[Estimate No. 22, 106th Cong., 2d Sess.]

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT,

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,

Washington, DC, August 30, 2000.

The PRESIDENT, The White House.

Submitted for your consideration is a request to make available

previously appropriated contingent emergency funds for the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Your approval of this request

would make available $90 million to fight wildland fires and rehabilitate fire-damaged Federal public lands in the western United

States. This request is in addition to the total of $300 million that

you made available to USDA on July 14th and August 9th, provided in prior Appropriation Acts, to address urgent firefighting

needs.

P.L. 106–113, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act,

2000, provided $651 million to USDA for wildland fire management

activities. The availability of a portion of this funding—$90 million—was made contingent upon the President submitting a budget

request to the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement.

Major fires in western States continue to result in costs that

greatly exceed those of the average firefighting season, and new

fires are being started daily by lightning and other causes. Funds

currently available to USDA for wildland fire operations are insufficient to cover the expenses estimated to be incurred during this

fiscal year. The funds now requested to be made available would

support emergency wildland fire operations, including fire suppression and rehabilitation of fire-damaged lands.

I recommend that you designate this request for $90 million as

an emergency requirement in accordance with section 251(b)(2)(A)

of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985,

as amended. No further congressional action will be required.

I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it

is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of Agriculture in recommending that you make the requested funds available by signing the enclosed letter to the Speaker of the House of

Representatives.

Sincerely,

JACOB J. LEW,

Director.

Enclosure.

4

EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS: AMOUNTS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED MADE

AVAILABLE BY THE PRESIDENT

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Forest Service:

Wildland Fire Management ........................................................... $90,000,000

P.L. 106–113, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act,

2000, provided $651 million to USDA for wildland fire management

activities. The availability of a portion of this funding—$90 million—was made contingent upon the President submitting a budget

request to the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement.

Major fires in the western United States continue to result in

costs that greatly exceed those of the average firefighting season.

At this time, the $90 million in contingent funding is required to

address urgent needs arising from the consequences of the severe

and numerous fires on Federal public lands throughout the western

United States. This funding will support emergency wildland fire

operations, including fire suppression and rehabilitation of firedamaged lands.

Æ