[House Document 106-289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-289


 
                 REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                                FUNDING

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 A FUNDING REQUEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOREST SERVICE, 
                        WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT




  September 6, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed


                                           The White House,
                                   Washington, DC, August 31, 2000.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Sir: In accordance with provisions of P.L. 106-113, the 
Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000, I hereby request 
the following:
Department of Agriculture
     Forest Service, Wildland Fire Management: 
$90,000,000.
    These funds will be used to address urgent needs arising 
from the consequences of the severe and numerous fires on 
Federal public lands throughout the western United States.
    I hereby designate the above request as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) 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, 106th Cong., 2d Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                   Washington, DC, August 30, 2000.

The President,

The White House.

    Submitted for your consideration is a request to make 
available previously appropriated contingent emergency funds 
for the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Your approval of this 
request would make available $90 million to fight wildland 
fires and rehabilitate fire-damaged Federal public lands in the 
western United States. This request is in addition to the total 
of $300 million that you made available to USDA on July 14th 
and August 9th, provided in prior Appropriation Acts, to 
address urgent firefighting needs.
    P.L. 106-113, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2000, provided $651 million to USDA for wildland fire 
management activities. The availability of a portion of this 
funding--$90 million--was made contingent upon the President 
submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the 
entire amount requested as an emergency requirement.
    Major fires in western States continue to result in costs 
that greatly exceed those of the average firefighting season, 
and new fires are being started daily by lightning and other 
causes. Funds currently available to USDA for wildland fire 
operations are insufficient to cover the expenses estimated to 
be incurred during this fiscal year. The funds now requested to 
be made available would support emergency wildland fire 
operations, including fire suppression and rehabilitation of 
fire-damaged lands.
    I recommend that you designate this request for $90 million 
as an emergency requirement 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.
    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 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 (USDA)

Forest Service:
    Wildland Fire Management............................     $90,000,000

    P.L. 106-113, the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2000, provided $651 million to USDA for wildland fire 
management activities. The availability of a portion of this 
funding--$90 million--was made contingent upon the President 
submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the 
entire amount requested as an emergency requirement.
    Major fires in the western United States continue to result 
in costs that greatly exceed those of the average firefighting 
season. At this time, the $90 million in contingent funding is 
required to address urgent needs arising from the consequences 
of the severe and numerous fires on Federal public lands 
throughout the western United States. This funding will support 
emergency wildland fire operations, including fire suppression 
and rehabilitation of fire-damaged lands.