[House Document 106-155]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




106th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-
155
 
  SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE FLOYD

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

     A REQUEST FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE TO HELP IN 
 ADDRESSING THE URGENT NEEDS OF THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES IN THE WAKE OF 
                            HURRICANE FLOYD




  November 8, 1999.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed




                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
79-012                      WASHINGTON : 1999
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                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, November 5, 1999.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: I ask the Congress to consider expeditiously the 
enclosed request for supplemental appropriations language to 
help in addressing the urgent needs of the mid-Atlantic States 
in the wake of Hurricane Floyd.
    Specifically, the requested change in appropriations 
language would facilitate the use of $429 million of the $2.5 
billion in contingent emergency funding provided to the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund by P.L. 106-
74, the FY 2000 VA/HUD/Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 
for residential home buy-outs and relocation assistance for 
victims of Hurricane Floyd.
    The details of this request 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. 41, 106th Cong., 1st Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                  Washington, DC, November 5, 1999.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration is a request for FY 2000 
supplemental appropriations language for the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA). This request would permit up to $429 
million in contingent emergency appropriations already enacted 
to be used for home buy-outs and relocation assistance for 
flood victims of Hurricane Floyd.
    As you know, the flood destruction caused by Hurricane 
Floyd in North Carolina and other States is staggering. In all, 
more than 12,000 homes located in the 100-year flood plain have 
been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by flooding. Without 
this supplemental, assistance would be capped at much less than 
the full need. Under the existing authority of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170c), only 2,200 homes would be eligible for buyouts 
and relocation assistance.
    This supplemental supports relief efforts that are already 
underway in areas affected by the disaster, including North 
Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, 
New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, and Florida.
    I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied 
that it is necessary at this time. Accordingly, I join Director 
Witt in recommending that you transmit the proposal to the 
Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                            Jacob J. Lew, Director.
    Enclosure.

                  Federal Emergency Management Agency

                          DISASTER RELIEF FUND

    In addition to sums otherwise authorized under 42 U.S.C. 
5170c, the President may contribute under subsection (a) of 
such section, from sums appropriated for disaster relief 
(notwithstanding the restriction in the last sentence of such 
subsection) up to $429,149,000 for property acquisition and 
relocation assistance for residential homeowner victims of 
Hurricane Floyd, where the homeowner's residence has been made 
uninhabitable by flooding caused by Hurricane Floyd and is 
located in the 100-year flood plain.
    This request would permit $429.1 million of the contingent 
emergency funds appropriated to the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund by P.L. 106-74, the FY 
2000 VA/HUD/Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, to be used 
for home buy-outs and relocation assistance for flood victims 
of Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina and other affected States.

                                
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