[House Document 104-264]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

104th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - -  House Document 104-264


 
 REQUESTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND FISCAL 
YEAR 1997 BUDGET AMENDMENTS TOTALING $1,097 MILLION FOR PROGRAMS THAT 
ARE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN OUR ANTI-TERRORISM, COUNTER-TERRORISM, AND 
           SECURITY EFFORTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

HIS REQUESTS FOR FY 1996 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND FY 1997 BUDGET 
 AMENDMENTS TOTALING $1,097 MILLION FOR PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO 
STRENGTHEN OUR ANTI-TERRORISM, COUNTER-TERRORISM, AND SECURITY EFFORTS 
IN THIS COUNTRY AND ABROAD AND TO DESIGNATE THE AMOUNTS MADE AVAILABLE 
AS AN EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 251(b)(2)(D)(i) OF THE 
BALANCED BUDGET AND EMERGENCY DEFICIT CONTROL ACT OF 1985, AS AMENDED, 
                       PURSUANT TO 31 U.S.C. 1107




 September 17, 1996.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed


                                           The White House,
                                    Washington, September 12, 1996.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed package of 
requests for FY 1996 supplemental appropriations and FY 1997 
budget amendments totaling $1,097 million for programs that are 
designed to strengthen our anti-terrorism, counter-terrorism, 
and security efforts in this country and abroad.
    At my July 20, 1996, meeting with the bipartisan 
congressional leadership, I indicated that such a request would 
be forthcoming after a thorough inter-agency review of funding 
requirements in the wake of recent acts of domestic and 
international terrorism. This package of supplemental funding 
requests and budget amendments has evolved out of that review 
and represents a comprehensive, balanced program for addressing 
this urgent requirement. I urge the Congress to act 
expeditiously on the requests being transmitted today.
    The danger from international terrorism to U.S. forces and 
installations has grown over the past year. At my request, the 
Department of Defense and the intelligence community have 
identified measures to enhance programs designed to deter and 
thwart terrorism. The enclosed requests for FY 1996 
supplemental appropriations, to be funded within congressional 
spending limits, will provide funds for the most urgent of 
these measures. These requests total $353 million for various 
anti-terrorism activities to increase physical security at 
overseas installations and improve intelligence capabilities to 
detect and combat terrorist activity.
    As you are aware, we have already begun to address the 
problems resulting from heightened terrorist activity. Last 
month, I approved the relocation of U.S. forces in the Persian 
Gulf region to lower threat areas. Though the Saudi Arabian 
government agreed to cover some costs, our forces have had to 
redirect funds from ongoing operations to support this 
relocation. Thus, to limit adverse effects to Department of 
Defense operations and provide sufficient funds for these 
critical anti-terrorism measures, it is imperative that these 
supplemental funds be provided as soon as possible.
    This package also contains emergency FY 1997 budget 
amendments totaling $728 million for anti-terrorism, counter-
terrorism, and security programs within a number of departments 
and agencies. In addition, I am requesting contingent emergency 
appropriations for the Departments of Justice and the Treasury 
for counter-terrorism activities, and, under separate cover, 
the Department of Justice will forward an FY 1997 reprogramming 
to enhance the FBI's counter-terrorism forensic capabilities.
    I hereby designate the amounts requested in each of the FY 
1997 budget amendments contained in the first enclosure as an 
emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D)(i) of 
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, 
as amended.
    While I have designated these requests for FY 1997 budget 
amendments as emergency requirements, it is, nonetheless, the 
intention of this Administration to work with the Congress to 
fund these high priority proposals within existing budgetary 
constraints.
    As you know, congressional spending levels for defense 
contain substantial increases over my budget request--in 
particular, for certain procurement and research and 
development projects that are not contained in the Defense 
Department's long-term planning requirements. I believe that we 
can provide for our military readiness, anti-terrorism 
activities, and other important national needs in the context 
of an agreement with the Congress on FY 1997 spending levels.
    The details of these actions are set forth in the enclosed 
letter from the Acting Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget. I concur with his comments and observations.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.
    Enclosures.



