[House Document 106-27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]






106th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-27
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   EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS FOR DISASTERS IN 
             CENTRAL AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AND COLOMBIA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

    REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY FY 1999 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
EMERGENCY DISASTER AND RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE EXPENSES ARISING FROM 
 THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE RECENT HURRICANES IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE 
            CARIBBEAN AND THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE IN COLOMBIA




  February 23, 1999.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed

                               --------

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE                    
69-012                     WASHINGTON : 1999





                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, February 16, 1999.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: I ask the Congress to consider expeditiously the 
enclosed requests for emergency FY 1999 supplemental 
appropriations. The requests provide for emergency disaster and 
reconstruction assistance expenses arising from the 
consequences of the recent hurricanes in Central America and 
the Caribbean and the recent earthquake in Colombia, for the 
replenishment of Department of Defense and United States Agency 
for International Development accounts that have been used to 
an unprecedented extent to provide assistance associated with 
these natural disasters, and for Department of Justice to cover 
the cost of additional detentions that result from our 
humanitarian policies and from the greater number of illegal 
border crossings in response to the hurricane.
    These requests were developed in close bipartisan 
consultation with the Congress. In light of bipartisan 
recognition that the needs for reconstruction are pressing, I 
urge the Congress to act quickly to restore hope to this region 
and help our neighbors return to the path of democracy and 
economic growth. If the Congress completes action by the end of 
March, then funds could be made available in time for the 
spring planting season, thereby restoring the prospect of jobs 
and hope to thousands who need it. My Administration will soon 
send to the Congress, as well, a proposal to enhance economic 
growth in the region by expanding the trade benefits of the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act. I urge the Congress to 
consider and enact this proposal speedily.
    I hereby designate the following requests as emergency 
requirements pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.
International Assistance Programs
     International Security Assistance, Economic 
Support Fund: $621,000,000.
     International Development Assistance--Multilateral 
Assistance, Debt Restructuring: $41,000,000.
     Agency for International Development, 
International Disaster Assistance: $25,000,000.
Department of Defense
     Operation and Maintenance, Disaster Relief 
Transfer Fund: $188,500,000.
Department of Justice
     Immigration and Naturalization Service, Salaries 
and Expenses--Enforcement and Border Affairs: $80,000,000.
    In addition to these emergency appropriations, I am 
requesting that the Congress approve a one-time restoration, 
for the remainder of FY 1999, of the special authority provided 
to me by section 506(a)(2)(B) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 
1961, as amended, to draw down up to $75 million of the 
inventory and resources of the Department of Defense for the 
purposes described in section 506(a)(2)(A) of the Foreign 
Assistance Act. The existing authority was entirely used in 
response to Hurricane Mitch.
    The details of these requests 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.