[House Document 105-56]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




105th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-56


 
               FISCAL YEAR 1998 BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUEST

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  A FISCAL YEAR 1998 BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE AUTHORITY TO 
  MAKE ONE-TIME TRANSFERS OF FUNDS TOTALING $113 MILLION NECESSARY TO 
 IMPLEMENT FULLY THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT 
        SERVICES (ICASS) PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO 31 U.S.C. 1106(b)




   March 17, 1997.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed


                                           The White House,
                                        Washington, March 17, 1997.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: I ask the Congress to consider a FY 1998 budget 
amendment that would provide authority to make one-time 
transfers of funds totaling $113 million necessary to implement 
fully the International Cooperative Administrative Support 
Services (ICASS) program. The ICASS program is designed to 
provide incentives for more efficient and economical operations 
at our embassies overseas and to provide for equitable cost-
sharing for related administrative support activities.
    Our overseas embassies and consulates provide a diverse 
array of administrative services to many U.S. Departments and 
agencies that support and advance America's interests. In the 
past, the Department of State has funded a disproportionate 
share of support costs, and customer agencies have had little 
say in how those services were provided. The ICASS program 
would change the way overseas administrative support is funded 
and managed. Agencies would decide what services they needed 
and would pay the full cost for those services. The proposed 
budget amendment would provide for a one-time funding 
adjustment to align support costs more appropriately with the 
programs that generate the need for the support services.
    Also included are six technical amendments to the FY 1998 
Budget. The details of these proposals 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.
    Enclosures.
      
    
    
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