[House Document 108-107]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-
107
 
    INTENTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE 
                        EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

     NOTIFICATION OF THE INTENTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY 
              TRANSFERRED FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND




July 23, 2003.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered 
                             to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                         Washington, July 23, 2003.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In order to continue the necessary and 
critical responses to the September 11 terrorist attacks, I am 
notifying the Congress of my intent to reallocate funds 
previously transferred from the Emergency Response Fund (ERF).
    At this time, $5 million of ERF funds will be transferred 
to the Food and Drug Administration to support activities to 
improve the security of the food supply.
    The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed 
letter from the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.
               [Estimate No. 14, 108th Cong., 1st Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                     Washington, DC, July 22, 2003.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration is a request to reallocate 
funds provided in P.L. 107-38, the Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist 
Attacks on the United States, FY 2001, to the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA).
    To improve the security of the food supply, the 
Administration now proposes to reallocate $5 million in 
Emergency Response Fund resources previously transferred to the 
Small Business Administration (SBA). In April 2003, the 
Congress was notified that these funds were available for 
transfer because they were in excess of identified disaster 
loan needs related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist 
attacks. At that time, we proposed that these funds be used to 
support the mission of the National Commission on Terrorist 
Attacks upon the United States. However, Congress provided the 
Commission the necessary funds to complete its mission in the 
Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, P.L. 108-11.
    FDA is actively working to keep the Nation's food supply 
secure from intentional contamination by terrorists. This $5 
million will support increased FDA research on mitigation 
strategies to prevent intentional contamination of food with 
biological and chemical agents. Pursuant to P.L. 107-38, these 
funds will be made available immediately after this designation 
is forwarded to the Congress.
    I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied 
that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services and the FDA Commissioner 
in recommending your approval of the requested transfer.
            Sincerely,
                                          Joshua B. Bolten,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

 Reallocation of Amounts Previously Appropriated and Transferred from 
                      the Emergency Response Fund

    Available Immediately:

Department of Health and Human Services: Food and Drug 
    Administration Salaries and Expenses................      $5,000,000

    This funding, to be transferred from the Emergency Response 
Fund pursuant to P.L. 107-38, will assist the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) in the protection of the national food 
supply from intentional contamination by terrorists. FDA will 
conduct research to evaluate mitigation strategies to prevent 
intentional contamination of the food supply.

                                
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