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[House Document 106-284]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                     

106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-284

 
  REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  THE REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 
       104-208, THE OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

  September 6, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed

                                           The White House,
                                        Washington, August 8, 2000.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: In accordance with provisions of P.L. 104-208, the 
Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, I hereby request 
the following:

Department of Agriculture:
    Forest Service, Wildland Fire Management: 
      $150,000,000.

    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.

             [Estimate No. 18, 106th Congress, 2d Session]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                    Washington, DC, August 8, 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 $150 million to fight wildland 
fires and rehabilitate fire-damaged Federal public lands in the 
western United States.
    P.L. 104-208, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
1997, provided $550 million to USDA for emergency wildland fire 
management activities. The availability of a portion of this 
funding--$250 million--was made contingent upon the President 
submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the 
entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. On 
September 29, 1999, you released $100 million to address needs 
arising from the consequences of fires on Federal public lands 
throughout the western United States. Of the $550 million 
appropriated to USDA for firefighting in P.L. 104-208, $300 
million was available immediately upon enactment.
    Major recent fires in western States have resulted 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 $150 
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.

    Emergency Appropriations: Amounts Previously Appropriated Made 
                       Available by the President

Department of Agriculture (USDA):
    Forest Service:
        Wildland Fire Management........................    $150,000,000

    P.L. 104-208, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
1997, provided $550 million to USDA for emergency wildland fire 
management activities. The availability of a portion of this 
funding--$250 million--was made contingent upon the President 
submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the 
entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. Of the 
$250 million in contingent emergency appropriations, $100 
million has been previously designated as an emergency 
requirement and made available.
    Major recent fires in the western United States have 
resulted in costs that greatly exceed those of the average 
firefighting season. At this time, the remaining $150 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 fire-damaged 
lands.

                                
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