[House Document 105-338]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




105th Congress 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-338


 
                    MAKING AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  FROM

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

HIS REQUESTS TO MAKE AVAILABLE $4.2 BILLION IN PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED 
   EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, PURSUANT TO 31 
                              U.S.C. 1107




  December 17, 1998.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed

                               --------

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE                    
69-012                     WASHINGTON : 1998



                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, October 23, 1998.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: In accordance with provisions of H.R. 4328, the 
Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations 
Act, 1998, I hereby request the following:
Department of Agriculture
    Risk Management Agency, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 
fund: $48,000,000
    Farm Service Agency, Commodity Credit Corporation fund: 
$4,174,000,000
    Natural Resources Conservation Service, Forestry incentives 
program: $10,000,000
    Office of the Secretary, Office of the Secretary: $250,000
    These funds will help address the crisis gripping our 
Nation's farm community. Together with the emergency funds that 
were available immediately upon my signing H.R. 4328 on October 
21st, emergency assistance to farmers and ranchers provided by 
that legislation totals $5.9 billion.
    I hereby designate all of the above requests as emergency 
requirements pursuant to section 25(b0(2)(A) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.
    The details of these actions 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.
                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                  Washington, DC, October 23, 1998.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration are requests to make 
available $4.2 billion in previously appropriated emergency 
funds for the Department of Agriculture.
    H.R. 4328, the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, provided a total of $5.9 
billion in emergency assistance to farmers and ranchers. Of 
this amount, the availability of $4.2 billion was made 
contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to 
the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an 
emergency requirement.
    I recommend that you designate the amounts listed on the 
enclosure as emergency requirements 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.
    The funds, together with the emergency farm assistance 
funds that were available immediately upon your signature of 
H.R. 4328, will strengthen the farm safety net. The resources 
will help hardworking farmers achieve a decent living, despite 
the misfortune of bad weather, crop disease, collapsing 
markets, or other forces that affect their livelihoods.
    I have carefully reviewed these proposals and am satisfied 
that they are 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:
    Risk Management Agency: Federal Crop Insurance 
      Corporation fund..................................     $48,000,000
    Farm Service Agency: Commodity Credit Corporation 
      fund..............................................   4,174,000,000
    Natural Resources Conservation Service: Forestry 
      incentives program................................      10,000,000
    Office of the Secretary: Office of the Secretary....         250,000