[House Document 105-198]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 2d Session  - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-198


 
               REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
                    THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

A REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS OF $6,000,000 FOR THE DEPARTMENT 
     OF AGRICULTURE FROM THE SALE OF GRAIN IN THE DISASTER RESERVE 
ESTABLISHED IN THE AGRICULTURAL ACT OF 1970, PURSUANT TO 31 U.S.C. 1107





  February 3, 1998.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed


                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, December 3, 1997.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: In accordance with provisions of the Departments of 
Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998, I hereby request and make 
available emergency appropriations of $6,000,000 for the 
Department of Agriculture from the sale of grain in the 
disaster reserve established in the Agricultural Act of 1970. 
These funds would indemnify farmers and ranchers for cattle 
losses occurring as a result of natural disasters.
    I hereby designate the amount 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.
    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. 22, 105th Cong., 1st Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                  Washington, DC, December 2, 1997.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration is a request to make 
available emergency appropriations totaling $6 million for the 
Department of Agriculture (USDA). Your approval of this request 
would make available contingent emergency funds appropriated in 
the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998. These funds 
would be used to make indemnity payments to farmers and 
ranchers who have suffered livestock losses as a result of 
natural disasters.
    The funds requested would cover major livestock losses in 
Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska suffered as a consequence of a 
severe early winter storm in October 1997. In addition, the 
funding would indemnify farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma and 
Texas who suffered similar losses from other natural disasters 
this year. At this time, USDA estimates that no other State 
would be eligible for relief. The provisions for relief are 
identical to the program enacted in the Supplemental 
Appropriations and Rescissions Act of 1997, which indemnified 
South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota after last year's 
winter storms. USDA estimates that the $6 million would fully 
cover all eligible payments.
    I recommend that you designate this request as an emergency 
funding requirement in accordance with section 251(b)(2)(D)(i) 
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
1985, as amended. No further congressional action is 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 approve this 
request by signing the enclosed letter to the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives.
            Sincerely,
                                      Franklin D. Raines, Director.
    Enclosure.


Emergency Appropriations: Amounts Previously Appropriated Made Available 
                            by the President

Department of Agriculture
    Farm Service Agency:
        Commodity Credit Corporation Fund, Disaster 
          reserve assistance program....................      $6,000,000

    General Provision 633 of the Departments of Commerce, 
Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 1998, provides $6 million for livestock 
indemnity payments, contingent upon the President submitting a 
budget request to the Congress and designating the entire 
amount requested as an emergency requirement.
    At this time, $6 million is required to make livestock 
indemnity payments to farmers and ranchers who suffered losses 
as a result of natural disasters this year. The Department of 
Agriculture estimates that this amount will fully indemnify 
producers in the affected areas for their losses.

                                
