[House Document 106-61]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     
106th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-61


 
   EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY 
                           MANAGEMENT AGENCY

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

HIS REQUEST FOR AN EMERGENCY FY 1999 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 
  FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO HELP THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES 
  DEVASTATED BY THE TERRIBLE TORNADOS THAT HIT OKLAHOMA, KANSAS, TEXAS, 
  AND TENNESSEE AND PROVIDE FOR OTHER DISASTER RELIEF NEEDS, PURSUANT TO 
  31 U.S.C. 1107




May 11, 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, May 10, 1999.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: I ask the Congress to consider expeditiously the 
enclosed request for an emergency FY 1999 supplemental 
appropriation for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As I 
announced on Saturday, this request for $372 million will help 
the people and communities devastated by the terrible tornados 
that hit Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Tennessee and provide for 
other disaster relief needs.
    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.

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                      Washington, DC, May 10, 1999.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration is a request for an 
emergency FY 1999 supplemental appropriation for the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The $372 million requested 
would provide funds for emergency expenses resulting from the 
tornadoes and severe storms that hit Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, 
and Tennessee last week and other disaster relief needs.
    As you saw on Saturday, the destruction caused by the 
tornadoes is devastating. In your radio address that day you 
remarked: ``There are some challenges that no individual--
indeed, no community--can handle alone. And on these occasions 
the national government must act quickly, effectively, 
compassionately.'' You announced that you would ask the 
Congress to act quickly on this request for $372 million for 
FEMA's disaster relief fund.
    This funding supports relief efforts already underway in 
the areas affected by this disaster. Emergency assistance and 
support is available from several other Federal Departments and 
agencies, including the Small Business Administration, the 
Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human 
Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and the 
Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management.
    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

    For an additional amount for ``Disaster Relief'' for 
emergency expenses resulting from tornadoes and other 
disasters, $372,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
which shall be available only to the extent that the President 
designates an amount as an emergency requirement as defined in 
section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended: Provided, That the 
entire amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to such Act.
    This request would provide supplemental funding to the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency for its emergency response 
and recovery efforts associated with tornadoes and severe 
storms in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Tennessee, and other 
disaster relief needs. The supplemental funds are requested on 
a contingency basis.

                                  
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