[House Document 108-215]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-215


 
                 REQUESTS FOR FY 2004 BUDGET AMENDMENTS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY FY 2004 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS 
  FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF DEFENSE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOMELAND 
  SECURITY, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THE INTERIOR, AND VETERANS 
  AFFAIRS, THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE 
 ADMINISTRATION, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND THE EXECUTIVE 
                        OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT




 September 14, 2004.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                    Washington, September 14, 2004.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: On September 6th, I submitted a 
supplemental request totaling $2 billion for the Department of 
Homeland Security for urgent needs associated with Hurricanes 
Charley and Frances. The Congress' prompt action on this 
request ensured that immediate response efforts to these recent 
disasters would continue uninterrupted. In addition to 
utilizing the supplemental funds provided in Public Law 108-
303, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster 
Relief Act, Federal Government agencies will continue to use 
existing resources and programs for response and recovery 
efforts.
    I now ask the Congress to consider the enclosed requests, 
totaling $3.1 billion, for additional emergency FY 2004 
supplemental appropriations for the Departments of Defense, 
Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban 
Development, the Interior, and Veterans Affairs, the Corps of 
Engineers, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
the Small Business Administration, and the Executive Office of 
the President.
    I hereby designate these specific proposals in the amounts 
requested herein as emergency requirements. As I stated in my 
previous request, these additional requests will allow for a 
comprehensive response and recovery effort to address the 
critical needs associated with both of these hurricanes in 
Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and other affected 
areas. I urge the Congress to limit this emergency request to 
those items directly related to the recovery efforts from the 
impact of these recent major disasters.
    The details of these requests are set forth in the enclosed 
letter from the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.
                [Estimate No. 11, 108th Cong. 2d Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                Washington, DC, September 14, 2004.
The President,
The White House.
    On September 6th, you submitted a supplemental request 
totaling $2 billion for the Department of Homeland Security for 
urgent needs associated with Hurricanes Charley and Frances. 
The Congress passed on September 7th and you signed into law on 
September 8th, P.L. 108-303, the Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2004, so that immediate 
response efforts to these recent disasters would continue 
uninterrupted.
    Submitted for your consideration are additional FY 2004 
emergency supplemental proposals, totaling $3.1 billion, for 
the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland 
Security, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, and 
Veterans Affairs, the Corps of Engineers, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Small Business 
Administration (SBA), and the Executive Office of the 
President. These funds are being requested to continue 
immediate needs assistance to address the impact of Hurricanes 
Charley and Frances and provide for a comprehensive response 
and recovery effort in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina 
and other affected areas. When combined with already enacted 
emergency appropriations, supplemental funding associated with 
these major disasters will exceed $5 billion. Total Federal 
grant and loan assistance, including action taken with existing 
resources and programs, will likely exceed $7 billion.
    At this time, Hurricane Ivan continues to pose a threat of 
further catastrophic damage in the Southeastern United States. 
Should it prove necessary, I will make further recommendations 
to you regarding the impact of this storm prior to final 
Congressional action on the enclosed request.
    As described below and in more detail in the enclosures, 
the requests include the following:
Department of Defense
     $72.5 million is requested for the Department of 
Defense for costs associated with the evacuation, base 
preparation, base recovery, and damage to structure and 
equipment at various military facilities caused by Hurricanes 
Charley and Frances.
Department of Health and Human Services
     $50.0 million is requested for the Public Health 
and Social Services Emergency Fund to help provide nutritional, 
medical and social services to affected elderly individuals; 
provide social services support to communities most affected by 
the hurricane; make available counseling services; support an 
increase in demand for unreimbursed health care; and restore 
community health centers in the impacted areas.

Department of Homeland Security

     $2.0 billion is requested for the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide support for the 
response and recovery of Hurricanes Charley and Frances and 
other ongoing and future disasters. This assistance is to pay 
for public infrastructures such as schools, police stations, 
bridges and roads. The funding will also support assistance to 
families and individuals, so that they can be housed, fed, and 
provided with medical and other care.
     $8.0 million is requested for the United States 
Coast Guard to repair damages to Coast Guard facilities, to 
replace lost or damaged buoys and channel markers, and for 
other emergency expenses such as personnel evacuation and 
activation of Coast Guard reserve personnel.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

     $150.0 million is requested for Community 
Development Grants to the State of Florida for emergency 
expenses to help replace damaged homes, including replacement 
of destroyed farm labor housing and housing for other low-
income persons, properties, and businesses, and for economic 
redevelopment projects.

Department of the Interior

     $21.3 million is requested for clean-up and 
facility repair needs at national wildlife refuges and national 
park units that were damaged by Hurricanes Charley and Frances, 
including Merritt Island, J.H. ``Ding'' Darling, Okefenokee in 
Florida and the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

     $24.1 million is requested for hurricane response 
and relief to VA facilities. Uses include, but are not limited 
to, repairing hospitals and outpatient clinics, as well as 
reimbursing VA for assistance to local communities, overtime 
for VA staff, and contracting with medical providers for care.

Corps of Engineers (Corps)

     $118.0 million is requested for the Corps to 
restore navigation channels, repair and rehabilitate coastal 
areas, and address other projects in areas affected by 
Hurricanes Charley and Frances.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

     $126.0 million is requested for NASA, including: 
$89 million for repair of buildings and communications systems 
at Kennedy Space Center; $23 million for repair of equipment 
exposed to the weather; and $14 million to provide temporary 
workspaces for displaced employees.

Small Business Administration

     $457.0 million is requested to provide funds to 
cover the large number of disaster loans expected to be made to 
individuals and businesses due to Hurricanes Charley and 
Frances.

Unanticipated Needs

     $70.0 million is requested to support the American 
Red Cross in their mission to shelter, feed and otherwise 
support victims of the recent natural disasters in Florida and 
other affected areas. The American Red Cross is the only non-
governmental agency with responsibilities under the National 
Response Plan, and back-to-back major hurricanes have put an 
unprecedented strain on its finances. Traditionally, the 
American Red Cross relies on private donors to support its 
relief activities, not taxpayer funds, and that will continue 
to be the case for future disasters.
    All of the requests in the transmittal are for the purpose 
of fulfilling known and urgent requirements that cannot 
reasonably be met through the use of existing agency funds. I 
recommend that you designate the specific proposals contained 
in this transmittal as emergency requirements.
    I have carefully reviewed these proposals and am satisfied 
that they are necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the 
heads of the affected Departments and agencies in recommending 
you transmit the proposals to the Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                          Joshua B. Bolten,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosures.
                         DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


                OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE

    For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
Defense-Wide'', $72,500,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2005 for emergency expenses resulting from 
natural or other disasters, for the costs of repairs to 
structures and equipment, evacuation, base preparation, base 
recovery, and delayed satellite launches: Provided, That 
Congress designates these amounts as an emergency requirement 
for this specific purpose: Provided further, That the Secretary 
of Defense may transfer these funds to appropriations for 
military personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; and 
family housing: Provided further, That funds transferred shall 
be merged with and made available for the same purposes and for 
the same time period as the appropriation to which transferred: 
Provided further, That this transfer authority is in addition 
to any other transfer authority available to the Department of 
Defense.
    This request would provide additional funds to the 
Department of Defense (DoD) to cover the costs associated with 
evacuation, base preparation, base recovery, damage to 
structure and equipment, and launch delays ($17 million), 
caused by Hurricanes Charley and Frances.
    Estimates of damage caused by these hurricanes to Patrick 
AFB and Cape Canaveral AS are $42.1 million. These estimates 
include base preparation and recovery, evacuation, and repairs 
for roofs, windows and water damage.
    Estimates of damage caused by these hurricanes to MacDill 
AFB are $2.1 million. These estimates include base preparation 
and recovery, evacuation, and repairs for roofs, windows, and 
water damage.
    Estimates of damage caused by these hurricanes to various 
Navy and Marine Corps installations are $10.2 million. These 
estimates include base preparation and recovery, water damage, 
dredging, and facility and roadway damage. The installations 
included in these estimates are NAS Pensacola/Whiting, NOTU 
Port Canaveral, NSA Orlando, NS Mayport, NAS Jacksonville, SB 
Kings Bay, NSA Athens, NSGA Sugar Grove, MCB Camp Lejune and 
Blount Island Command.
    Estimates of damage caused by these hurricanes to Avon Park 
AFR are $1.1 million. These estimates include base preparation 
and recovery and facility repair.

                                ------                                


                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


                        Departmental Management


            PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND

    For an additional amount for ``Public Health and Social 
Services Emergency Fund'' to support aging services, social 
services and health services associated with natural disaster 
recovery and response efforts, $50,000,000, to remain available 
until expended: Provided, That Congress designates this amount 
as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide an additional $50 million for 
the Department of Health and Human Services for hurricane 
response and relief to aging Americans, children, families, 
individuals with disabilities, low-income individuals and the 
communities in which they live. Uses include, but are not 
limited to, helping provide nutritional, medical and social 
services to affected elderly individuals; providing social 
services support to communities most affected by Hurricanes 
Charley and Frances; making available counseling services; 
supporting an increase in demand for unreimbursed health care; 
and restoring community health centers in the impacted areas.

                                ------                                


                    DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


                  Emergency Preparedness and Response


                          DISASTER RELIEF FUND

    For an additional amount for necessary expenses under the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), $2,000,000,000, to remain available 
until expended: Provided, That Congress designates this amount 
as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide an additional $2.0 billion for 
the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency 
Management Agency for disaster relief associated with 
Hurricanes Charley and Frances as well as other ongoing and 
future disasters. The funding will support response and 
recovery efforts, including assistance to families and 
individuals, and other urgent requirements such as emergency 
protective measures and debris removal in the affected areas. 
Additionally, this funding will support the rebuilding of state 
and local public infrastructure.

                                ------                                


                    DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


                       United States Coast Guard


                           OPERATING EXPENSES

    For an additional amount for ``Operating Expenses'' for 
expenses resulting from the recent natural disasters in the 
southeastern United States, $8,000,000, to remain available 
until expended: Provided, That Congress designates this amount 
as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    The Coast Guard will use these funds to repair damaged 
facilities, replace lost or damaged aids to navigation, cover 
the cost of personnel evacuation in advance of the disasters 
and reserve mobilization to complete post-disaster clean-up and 
repair, and pay for other emergency expenses associated with 
Hurricanes Charley and Frances.

                                ------                                


              DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT


                   Community Planning and Development


                       COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND

    For an additional amount for ``Community Development 
Fund,'' as authorized under title I of the Housing and 
Community Development Act of 1974 (Act), for emergency expenses 
resulting from natural disasters in Florida except those 
activities reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency or available through the Small Business Administration, 
and for reimbursement for expenditures incurred from the 
regular Community Development Block Grant formula allocation 
used to achieve these same purposes, $150,000,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2007: Provided, That Congress 
designates this amount as an emergency requirement for this 
specific purpose: Provided further, That such funds may be 
awarded to the State of Florida for affected areas: Provided 
further, That notwithstanding 42 U.S.C. 5306(d)(2) the State of 
Florida is authorized to provide such assistance to entitlement 
communities: Provided further, That in administering these 
funds for economic revitalization activities in Florida the 
Secretary may waive, or specify alternative requirements for, 
any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary 
administers in connection with the obligation by the Secretary 
or the use by the recipient of these funds (except for 
requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor 
standards, and the environment), upon a finding that such 
waiver is required to facilitate the use of such funds, and 
would not be inconsistent with the overall purpose of the 
statute or regulation: Provided further, That for activities 
funded by amounts provided herein, the Secretary may waive, on 
a case-by-case basis and upon such other terms as the Secretary 
may specify, in whole or in part, the requirements that 
activities principally benefit persons of low- and moderate-
income pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 5301(c) and 5304(b)(3): Provided 
further, That the Secretary shall publish in the Federal 
Register any waiver of any statute or regulation authorized 
under this heading no later than 5 days before the effective 
date of such waiver. 
    This request would provide an additional $150 million for 
Community Planning and Development for the State of Florida for 
emergency expenses to help replace damaged homes, including 
replacement of destroyed farm labor housing and housing for 
other low-income persons, properties, and businesses, and for 
economic redevelopment projects.

                                ------                                


                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


                       Fish and Wildlife Service


                              CONSTRUCTION

    For an additional amount for ``Construction,'' $13,900,000, 
to remain available until expended: Provided, That Congress 
designates this amount as an emergency requirement for this 
specific purpose. 
    This request would provide additional funds to the Fish and 
Wildlife Service for clean-up and facility repair needs at the 
Merritt Island, J.H. ``Ding'' Darling, Okefenokee and other 
national wildlife refuges that were damaged by Hurricanes 
Charley and Frances.

                                ------                                


                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


                         National Park Service


                   CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR MAINTENANCE

    For an additional amount for ``Construction and Major 
Maintenance,'' $7,400,000, to remain available until expended: 
Provided, That Congress designates this amount as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide additional funds to the National 
Park Service for clean-up and facility repair needs at national 
park units in Florida and North Carolina that were damaged by 
Hurricanes Charley and Frances, including the Dry Tortugas 
National Park in Florida and the Blue Ridge Parkway in North 
Carolina.

                                ------                                


                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


                     Veterans Health Administration


                            MEDICAL SERVICES

    For an additional amount for ``Medical Services'' for 
expenses related to the recent natural disasters in the 
Southeast $5,800,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2005: Provided, That Congress designates this amount as an 
emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide an additional $5.8 million for 
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for response and relief 
efforts associated with Hurricanes Charley and Frances. Uses 
include, but are not limited to reimbursing VA for equipment 
and purchasing of contract medical providers.

                                ------                                


                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


                     Veterans Health Administration


                           MEDICAL FACILITIES

    For an additional amount for ``Medical Facilities'' for 
expenses related to the recent natural disasters in the 
Southeast, $16,800,000, to remain available until expended: 
Provided, That Congress designates this amount as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide an additional $16.8 million for 
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for hurricane response 
and relief to VA facilities. Uses include, but are not limited 
to, repairing hospitals and outpatient clinics.

                                ------                                


                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


                     Veterans Health Administration


                         MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION

    For an additional amount for ``Medical Administration'' for 
expenses related to the recent natural disasters in the 
Southeast, $1,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2005: Provided, That Congress designates this amount as an 
emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide an additional $1.5 million for 
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for hurricane response 
and relief. Uses include, but are not limited to reimbursing VA 
for travel that VA employees undertook to Florida to assist in 
Hurricanes Charley and Frances relief efforts, and reimbursing 
VA for any assistance given to local communities for health 
care or shelter.

                                ------                                


                    CORPS OF ENGINEERS--CIVIL WORKS


                   OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, GENERAL

    For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance,'' 
to dredge navigation channels and repair other Corps projects 
in southern and eastern states affected by natural disasters, 
$30,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 
Congress designates this amount as an emergency requirement for 
this specific purpose.
    This request would provide an additional $30 million to the 
Corps of Engineers. Hurricanes Charley and Frances caused 
severe shoaling in certain channels, making them unsafe or 
impassable for some commercial vessels, and damaged other 
projects. These funds would be used to restore navigation 
channels and other projects in Florida and other southern and 
eastern states that the Corps is authorized to maintain. The 
Corps would use these funds to dredge channels back to their 
operating depths existing prior to Hurricanes Charley and 
Frances, and repair other projects such as the Central and 
South Florida Project (including the Herbert Hoover Dike and 
Lake Okeechobee).

                                ------                                


                    CORPS OF ENGINEERS--CIVIL WORKS


                 FLOOD CONTROL AND COASTAL EMERGENCIES

    For an additional amount for ``Flood Control and Coastal 
Emergencies,'' as authorized by section 5 of the Flood Control 
Act of August 16, 1941, as amended (33 U.S.C. 701n) for 
emergency response to and recovery from coastal storm damages 
and flooding in southern and eastern states caused by natural 
disasters, $88,000,000, to remain available until expended: 
Provided, That Congress designates this amount as an emergency 
requirement for this specific purpose.
    This request would provide $88 million for the Flood 
Control and Coastal Emergencies account of the Army Corps of 
Engineers--Civil Works. Hurricanes Charley and Frances caused 
severe damage to coastal storm protection and flood protection 
features eligible for assistance under the Flood Control and 
Coastal Emergencies program. The requested funds would be used 
in southern and eastern states to finance the costs of Corps of 
Engineers emergency operations in response to natural 
disasters, and the costs of recovery activities such as repair 
and rehabilitation of eligible features damaged by Hurricanes 
Charley and Frances. The extent of repair and rehabilitation of 
beach erosion would be the lesser of the amount required for 
emergency protection or replacing sand eroded by the storms.
    In conducting flood and storm response activities to 
Hurricanes Charley and Frances, the Corps of Engineers has 
exhausted its Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies funds and 
has transferred $5 million thus far from another appropriation 
account under current authority, with more transfers possible. 
The total estimate for flood and storm response activities 
funded from this account is $20 million, including the 
reimbursement of transferred funds. The total estimate for 
follow-on recovery activities, including repair and 
rehabilitation of eligible protective features, is $68 million.

                                ------                                


             NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION


                       SPACE FLIGHT CAPABILITIES

    For an additional amount for ``Space Flight Capabilities,'' 
to repair facilities damaged and take other emergency measures 
due to the effects of hurricanes, $126,000,000, to remain 
available until expended: Provided, That Congress designates 
this amount as an emergency requirement for this specific 
purpose.
    This request would provide $89 million for repair of 
buildings and communications systems at NASA's Kennedy Space 
Center, including the cleanup and repair of the Vehicle 
Assembly Building and the repair of the Thermal Protection 
System Facility and the temporary relocation of its production 
capability; $23 million for repair of equipment exposed to the 
weather; and $14 million to provide temporary workspaces for 
displaced employees.

                                ------                                


                     SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


                     DISASTER LOANS PROGRAM ACCOUNT

    For an additional amount for ``Disaster Loans Program 
Account'' for emergency expenses resulting from natural or 
other disasters, to remain available until expended, 
$248,000,000 for the cost of direct loans; and $209,000,000 for 
administrative expenses to carryout the disaster loan program, 
which may be transferred to the appropriations for ``Salaries 
and expenses'': Provided, That Congress designates the amounts 
provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific 
purpose. 
     This request would provide additional funds to the Small 
Business Administration (SBA) to cover the large number of 
disaster loans expected to be made to individuals and 
businesses in the wake of Hurricanes Charley and Frances. In 
order to ensure adequate response to victims of the hurricane, 
the Administration is requesting $457 million in budget 
authority to cover loan subsidy ($248 million) and loan making 
($209 million) activities. Including already appropriated 
funds, this request would allow SBA to make up to $2.3 billion 
in loans to aid in the recovery from these major disasters.

                                ------                                


                   EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT


                          UNANTICIPATED NEEDS

    For an additional amount for ``Unanticipated Needs'', not 
to exceed $70,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2005, for the American Red Cross for reimbursement of disaster 
relief and recovery expenditures and emergency services 
associated with Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan, and only 
to the extent funds are not made available for those activities 
by other federal sources: Provided, That these funds may be 
administered by any authorized federal government agency to 
meet the purposes of this provision and that total 
administrative costs shall not exceed three percent of the 
total appropriation: Provided further, That the Comptroller 
General shall audit the use of these funds by the American Red 
Cross: Provided, That Congress designates this amount as an 
emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
    $70.0 million is requested to support the American Red 
Cross in their mission to shelter, feed and otherwise support 
victims of the recent natural disasters in Florida and other 
affected areas. The American Red Cross is the only non-
governmental agency with responsibilities under the National 
Response Plan, and back-to-back major hurricanes have put an 
unprecedented strain on its finances. Traditionally, the 
American Red Cross relies on private donors to support its 
relief activities, not taxpayer funds, and that will continue 
to be the case for future disasters. This funding will not 
duplicate other federally funded disaster response and recovery 
activities.

                                  
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